Legal Articles and Guides
Woman get R3.5m in first-of-its-kind revenge porn case
A Germiston woman has won a first-of-its-kind ruling in the Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) after she successfully sued a couple for distributing revenge porn about her on Facebook.
Mother sues department over birth swop
Sibongile Makhoba was on cloud nine after she delivered twins at the Heidelberg Hospital in 2002. She named them Zandile and Zandi and raised them at her home in Ratanda township.
Ruling upholds mother’s claim of negligence
The Western Cape High Court has ruled in favour of a mother (35) in what a Cape Argus report calls a landmark case against the Health MEC, involving medical negligence during childbirth experienced at the Mitchell’s Plain Midwife Obstetric Unit.
Almost R4m awarded for 523 days in prison
The deprivation of liberty is a serious infringement on a person’s rights. The emotional distress and reputational harm caused by wrongful detention and malicious prosecution justify significant compensation, but the award must also be fair and balanced.
Claim against Eersterust school dismissed
Staff members at a school are neither God nor air, a judge said in turning down a damages claim by a now former pupil at Nantes Primary School in Eersterust who blamed the school for the fact that he was attacked by a fellow pupil on the schoolground during a break.
RAF petitions SCA President for appeal
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) has petitioned the President of the SCA after the same court refused to hear its leave to appeal in a matter over its decision to change its accounting policies.
Man awarded R95 000 after unlawful arrest ordeal
A Mahikeng man who missed the birth of his child after he was unlawfully arrested and detained will be paid R95 000 after he took the Police Minister to the North West High Court for spending two days behind bars on an unfounded arson charge.
Health MEC to pay R13m in cerebral palsy case
The KZN MEC for Health has to pay R13.1m in damages to the mother of a now 10-year-old daughter who was born with brain damage at the Christ the King Hospital in Ixopo.
SAPS ordered to pay R2m for 'brutal assault'
In what a Pretoria News report calls a ruling highlighting the ongoing issue of police brutality in SA, the Western Cape High Court has ordered the SAPS to pay nearly R2m in damages to a former DJ who lost an eye during a police raid in Cape Town.
Parents damages claim fails on technicality
The damages claim against a gynecologist by parents of a now six-year-old child has failed, says a Pretoria News report. The parents sought R5m from the doctor based on patrimonial loss arising from their duty to support their child.
Police to pay R2.3m for child shot in face
The Police Ministry has to pay more than R2.3m in damages to the mother of a teenager who was shot in the face by live ammunition used by the police during a service delivery protest in Ottosdal, North West Province.
Minister held liable for unlawful protection order arrest
A teacher (62), arrested for allegedly contravening a domestic violence order, has successfully sued the Minister of Police for wrongful arrest and detention, says a GroundUp report.
Another complaint against Headache Clinic doctor
A complaint has been filed at the Health Professionals Council of SA (HPCSA) against Dr Elliot Shevel (81) who was suspended last week following the deaths of two patients – one in June, and the other in 2021.
Judge slams xenophobic assault on Soweto resident
Gauteng High Court (Johannesburg) Judge Stuart Wilson has ruled the ‘despicable’ assault on Soweto resident Vigo Macamo was humiliating and ‘partly xenophobic in character’.
Judge rejects RAF’s rescission bid
Despite being notified twice that default judgment was looming against it in a case where the Road Accident Fund (RAF) simply did not defend the matter earlier, the RAF suddenly turned to court to rescind the judgment that it is liable to pay compensation to a road accident victim.
