The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development recently announced its controversial decision to carry out an assessment of the decisions of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court of Appeal. Perhaps its time and resources would be better spent by assessing the degree to which our lower courts are at present carrying out their prime function of dispensing justice - and in particular, of ensuring the right of detainees "to have their trial begin and conclude without reasonable … [Read more...]
Safarina Luthuli
19 May, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The FW De Klerk Foundation strongly condemns recent remarks made by Dr Piet Croukamp of the University of Johannesburg in an article in Rapport on 13 May, 2012 ("Safarina Luthuli"). The ANC recently invited interested parties from the Afrikaans language community to a high-level discussion event. The invitation was specific in that minorities in South Africa should be more than only merely a critical voice. They should be a pro-active voice for the promotion of mutual interests and a national … [Read more...]
How to Remedy a Lease Agreement Breach
17 May, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This week, the Property Poser panel deals with a rental issue from a reader whose landlord sent her an SMS instructing her to vacate his property by the end of the month. She admits that, since her husband has been retrenched, they have been in arrears with the rental. The couple had offered to repay the amount in instalments or set up a debit order, but received no response. The reader would like to know whether they could give their landlord one month's notice or whether they should wait … [Read more...]
Previous: Neighbour oversteps the boundary
FW De Klerk Speaks to CNN Interview and Reactions
17 May, 2012 By 2 Comments
The remarks I made during my recent interview with Christiane Amanpour have been widely misunderstood and misinterpreted. I would accordingly like to make my position perfectly clear. The views I expressed related to the reasons why - as a young lawyer and politician way back in the 60's and 70's - I supported separate development. I did so within the context of the times and my wish to retain the historic right of my people to self-determination. I believed then that the problems of South … [Read more...]
Next: Safarina Luthuli
Centre for Constitutional Rights Condemns COSATU violence
16 May, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Centre for Constitutional Rights strongly condemns Tuesday's acts of violence allegedly committed by supporters of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) against a peaceful march of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and its supporters in Johannesburg. These violent actions instigated and perpetrated allegedly by supporters of COSATU - as had been the case during various previous protest actions organised by COSATU themselves - was not only an attack on a peaceful demonstration, but … [Read more...]
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FW De Klerk Speech to Durban Rotary Club
11 May, 2012 By Leave a Comment
During our historic negotiations in the early 'nineties, we South Africans reached fundamental and well-considered agreements on the kind of society that we wanted. We agreed that we wanted a non-racial and non-sexist society based on human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms; We agreed that Constitution - and not the majority of the day - would be sovereign. We agreed that we would establish a truly democratic system of government … [Read more...]
Neighbour oversteps the boundary
11 May, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Whenever people live in close proximity to one another, it seems that possibilities for conflict abound. This week the Property Poser panel considers the contentious issue of neighbours overstepping their boundaries. A reader writes that her neighbour planted a hedge on her own side of a shared boundary wall but that, over time, the hedge grew and covered the whole wall, including the reader's portion. She says she did not have a problem with this because the original wall was quite low … [Read more...]
Tenant faces unreasonable utilities demands
3 May, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This week the Property Poser panel addresses a problem from a reader who is renting a cottage on another person's property. She explains that she pays her rental in advance and her utilities in arrears and settles them jointly around the 27th, even though her lease stipulates that they are only due at the end of the month. Recently, her landlady obtained an up-to-date municipal account and insisted that the amount was payable by the 7th even though, in the normal course of events, the … [Read more...]
Consumer Protection Act on Latent and Patent Property Defects
26 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Property Poser panel often receives queries relating to the discovery of defects during the course of a property sale or shortly thereafter. This week a buyer tells us that the transfer of his property is still in progress but substantial leaks in the roof have been discovered. When the reader reported it, the estate agent obtained quotations for the repairs and a claim was instituted with the relevant insurer. It has subsequently transpired that the insurer will not cover the claim … [Read more...]
Previous: Complicated Family Living Arrangements
Complicated Family Living Arrangements
19 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Verbal agreements between family members often create problematic situations with regard to living arrangements. A reader writes that, a few years ago, her son and his wife suggested that their double garage be converted into a flatlet for her and her partner. Part of this arrangement included that a new double garage be constructed on the property. The financing for these alterations was provided by the reader who raised a bond on another erf she owns. She also agreed to pay the monthly … [Read more...]
Minister Blade Nzimande’s Majority Rule Criticism Criticised
14 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The F W de Klerk Foundation has read with interest the latest views of Blade Nzimande relating to the principle that "the People Shall Govern: The principal and supreme foundation of our democracy." Mr Nzimande is very critical of the media, opposition parties, the courts and NGOs 'like the F W de Klerk Foundation' which he believes are trying to subvert the right of the majority to govern. In support of his views in this regard he cites the declaration in the Freedom Charter that "the people … [Read more...]
Congestion expected when young math boffins arrive
13 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The campus will be congested on the evening of 16 April when over 8 000 learners like these converge for the annual UCT Maths Competition. Congestion is expected as a record entry of 8 312 participants from a record 153 Western Cape schools converges on upper campus on Monday evening, 16 April, for the annual UCT Mathematics Competition. After registration, the young maths boffins will gather in 63 different venues across the campus to write the contest papers. Over 200 maths … [Read more...]
Previous: Ikeys live to fight another year
Trustees can be held personally liable for their actions
11 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
This week the Property Poser panel deals with a sticky situation relating to the trustees' responsibilities when it comes to repairs and maintenance in a sectional title complex. In this instance, the driveways of the complex had to be resurfaced with tar and a special levy was raised to cover the cost. The reader reports that the first section was very poorly done and it was not long before the tar started lifting and sticking to car tyres. In the end, only a small number of the driveways … [Read more...]
Ikeys live to fight another year
10 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Over and out: Dillyn Leyds, one of the Ikey's few highlights in an otherwise dour campaign, leaps over for a spectacular try against CUT. Sighs of relief all round. The Green Mile will host FNB Varsity Cup rugby again next year. A disappointing season could have become a disastrous one had UCT's Ikeys not recovered from an early scare against the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Varsity Cup promotion/relegation playoff on 9 April. After conceding a shock early try, the Ikeys … [Read more...]
Previous: Hail to Obz Square
ANC Head of Communications Goes to Sleep While Reading
10 April, 2012 By 1 Comment
According to an article in New Age on 9 April, Mr Keith Khoza, the ANC's 'Head of Communications', is reported to have said that F W de Klerk was "poisoning the South Africans with his utterances" about former President Mandela. Khoza was apparently referring to remarks that F W de Klerk made about great world leaders - including Mr Mandela - in his recent speech to the River Club. Khoza made the remarkable claim that because Mr Mandela is black, "F W de Klerk couldn't acknowledge him." In … [Read more...]
Hail to Obz Square
6 April, 2012 By Leave a Comment
It’s official: Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo (front) and Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane declare Obz Square officially open. Obz Square has been a project of many milestones, each celebrated with due pomp and ceremony. The latest celebration, on 3 April, was to mark the residence's official opening, which of course happened earlier this year. Now settled in, the students and staff are reaping the rewards of this labour of love, and they love it. "The people who designed this building had the … [Read more...]
Previous: A.R.T. on exhibition at Michaelis
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