Bromwell Street evictions placed on hold

Residents of Woodstock’s Bromwell Street, who have waged an eight-year legal battle to stop them from being evicted from the houses they, and generations before them, have always called home, celebrated after the Constitutional Court barred their eviction until the City of Cape Town has developed a new housing programme, incorporating transitional housing.

Businessman wins battle to keep his firearms

The police’s second attempt to retain Paterson businessman Jacques Verwey’s legal firearms has failed, and they must now comply with a court order to return his guns as soon as possible.

Judgment reserved in Stilfontein urgent interdict

It is unreasonable for illegal miners in Stilfontein to expect medical treatment and food to be brought to them while they remain underground to avoid arrest — and none of them have complained about their constitutional rights being violated, the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) heard yesterday.

Property recognised as a family home

The Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) has recognised property as a family home, and thus protected the rights of a family who was facing possible eviction.

Ramaphosa refers Copyright Bill to ConCourt

President Cyril Ramaphosa has referred a Bill that could make published work more accessible for the blind or visually impaired to the Constitutional Court, reports The Citizen.

Home Affairs urged to revoke lawmaker’s SA citizenship

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has criticised Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber for failing to act against Phil Craig, leader of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group (Ciag).

Husbands can adopt wives’ surnames

Two men have been given the green light to use the surnames of their wives after Free State High Court (Bloemfontein) Judge Joseph Mhlambi overturned the provisions of an outdated law which prohibited this.

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.