Deadline to appeal wrongfully blocked IDs

Members of the public have less than 30 days to submit their appeals on why their identity documents have been wrongfully blocked, depriving them of accessing key governmental and other services.

Judge grants teen permission to travel

A widow had to turn to the Limpopo High Court (Polokwane) to obtain permission for her daughter (16) to travel abroad to represent her school, after the child’s father died in April in Brazil and was unable to give his go-ahead.

Fathering a child does not guarantee bail

Getting your wife pregnant before being arrested is not an automatic get out of jail free card, a judge said in refusing an accused bail.

Western Cape school admission battle continues

The battle between Equal Education and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) over school admissions continues in the Western Cape High Court, says a Weekend Argus report.

SCA issues landmark judgment on asylum seekers

In what a Business Day report calls a landmark judgment, the SCA has found in favour of two Burundi asylum seekers whose bid was refused by the Department of Home Affairs.

ConCourt criticises trustees for improper motives

The Constitutional Court has given the trustees of the Goede Hoop Trust a tongue-lashing for having ‘improper motives’ and using farmworkers as a means to frustrate the execution of sale of a wine estate to recover money owed to Nedbank.  

Speaker prepares for arrest after court ruling

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says she is willing to hand herself over to the police from today to effect her arrest over allegations of corruption and bribery.

R1m compensation award in failed restitution bid

A Mpumalanga family has been awarded R1m compensation by the Land Claims Court in a restitution claim for land currently used for timber operations dating back almost 20 years.

Pistorius legal team hope for immediate release

Lawyers for Oscar Pistorius hope the former Paralympic champion, who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend a decade ago, will be released immediately if granted parole today.

Judge refuses to admit victim impact statement

The Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) has refused to admit a victim impact statement on how the death of Prince Lethukuthula Zulu affected the Zulu royal family.

Court date for urine scandal student

Expelled Stellenbosch University student Theuns du Toit has been summoned to appeared in the Stellenbosch Regional Court on charges of crimen injuria and malicious damage to property, Die Burger reports.

SCA finds prisoner computer ban unconstitutional

The Minister of Justice & Correctional Services and National Commissioner for Correctional Services have a year to rectify a policy which allows prisons to bar inmates from using personal computers in their cells.

Groundbreaking judgment on maternity leave for fathers

In what a Pretoria News report calls a groundbreaking judgment for new parents – especially fathers – a court has ruled that both parents are entitled to maternity leave.

Prisoner struggles to appeal sentence over file debacle

Sifiso Tembe has been unable to appeal his prison sentence because the KZN High Court (Pietermaritzburg) erroneously told his legal representatives that his case number was incorrect, and that they did not have his file, reports GroundUp.

Ban on electronic equipment in Gumede case challenged

The media is challenging a court ban against the use of cellphones, laptops, and video and audio recordings in the corruption trial of former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and 21 others.

Muslims dismiss Matrimonial Property Act plans

The SA Law Review Commission (LRC) discussion paper – which proposes progressive changes to the country’s 40-year-old Matrimonial Property Act – has appeared to raise the ire of some members of the Muslim community.

ConCourt confirms landmark ruling for divorcees

The Constitutional Court has ordered Parliament to amend the Divorce Act to give more spouses a chance to claim a share of the assets of a former partner after a split.

Hearing for eviction order against homeless sites underway

The Western Cape High Court is hearing an application by the City of Cape Town to obtain a final eviction order for several homeless encampment sites across the CBD.

Pistorius was eligible for parole six months ago

The Constitutional Court has confirmed convicted killer Oscar Pistorius had served half of his sentence by 21 March this year.

Murder conviction overturned 19 years later

After 19 years behind bars, George Robertson walked out of prison a free man last week – his conviction for murdering his father overturned after a protracted battle to have his appeal heard.