On Tuesday night President Cyril Ramaphosa told South Africa that the government “will not spare any effort, or any expense, in our determination to support our people and protect them from harm”. The economic support package that he announced of half a trillion rand was evidence of this. The substantial stimulus comes in addition to the measures that government has already implemented in the past few weeks to support the economy, and will provide...

Introduction During President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address to the Nation on 9 April 2020 he briefly touched on the concerns of many South Africans; the issue of Force Majeure. The implementation of the national ‘Lockdown’, and the extension thereof up and until 4 May 2020, has rendered parties unable to perform the contractual obligations they have undertaken. Many individuals and businesses are unaware of the recourse available should they find themselves in...

As a result of COVID 19 the Minister has set up a COVID 19 TERS relief fund, as highlighted below, which is a separate fund linked to UIF and which every employer is obligated to register for. I set out the salient points below: The Covid-19 TERS Gazette Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi, the Minister of Employment and Labour has issued the Covid-19 TERS Gazette which purposes are as follows: To make provision for: Payment of benefits to the Contributors who have...

“Never let a good crisis go to waste” (Winston Churchill) The COVID-19 coronavirus crisis will, like all crises, eventually give way to economic and societal recovery. Even before that inevitable upturn actually sets in, entrepreneurs should remember that times of great risk and challenge are also times of great opportunity. So get your team together now and brainstorm what new needs and new niches you can fill. Witness for example the “remote destination”...

“In our law cohabitation does not have special legal consequences. Generally the proprietary consequences and rights flowing from a marriage are not available to unmarried couples, regardless of the length of their cohabitation” (extract from judgment below) If you live as a couple, avoid the trap of believing the myth of the “common law marriage”. It’s a very persistent myth, possibly because some other countries do indeed give formal recognition to certain...