BACKGROUND & SUMMARY The appellant in this matter was MWB Business Exchanges Centres Ltd (“MWB”), a company who managed serviced offices in London. The respondent in this matter was Rock Advertising Limited (“Rock”). MWB and Rock entered into a licence agreement (the “Agreement”) for the occupation of certain office space (the “Premises”) for a fixed
SUMMARY On 15 May 2015, a Rule 43 order in terms of the Uniform Rules of Court was granted dealing with the respondent’s maintenance obligations towards the applicant. On 29 May 2015, the respondent made the first payment and continued to do so until 28 March 2018. The matter, in respect of hearing of the
By Chantelle Gladwin-Wood, Partner and Dominique Lloyd, Associate Introduction This article considers the legal question of whether a deposit of money made by a tenant with a landlord on the one hand, or a deposit of a customer of a municipality/Eskom on the other, constitutes a pledge in terms of our law. This is important
By Chantelle Gladwin-Wood, Partner and Dean Wright, Partner Introduction This article examines the legal effect of section 110 of the Local Government:  Municipal Systems Act (“the Systems Act”) in relation to a municipality’s burden of proof during litigation.  The (very alarming) section reads as follows: Certain certificates to be evidence In legal proceedings against a
By Chantelle Gladwin-Wood, Partner and Anja van Wijk, Senior Associate Introduction There are many controversial questions regarding Expropriation Without Compensation (“EWC”) doing the rounds, some of which are (purposely) being sensationalized by the media (and especially social media) to increase readership. This article is one of a series on expropriation and looks at some of
By Anja van Wijk, Senior Associate and Chantelle Gladwin-Wood, Partner Introduction This article examines the practical solutions available to a landlord in the situation where a tenant vacates a property and leaves personal items behind. In support of Womens’ Day tomorrow, all references to persons will be in the feminine, but must be understood as

Self-help Evictions

By Maike Gohl, Senior Associate and Anja van Wijk, Senior Associate Introduction This article discusses the possible repercussions of landlords that undertake “self-help” evictions when it comes to removing occupants from their properties. Self-help evictions are attempts at removing anybody from a property without the necessary court order, and are also called unlawful evictions.  
BACKGROUND Marthie Bester (“the Applicant”) was initially permanently employed as the national marketing director of Selfmed (“the Respondent”). This was later converted to a fixed term contract expiring on 31 December 2014. Upon expiry of her contract, the Applicant alleged that she was owed 218.74 days’ accrued leave. However, the Respondent contended that she was
SUMMARY On or about 05 August 2017, Dawid Fredrik Mostert (herein referred to as the “Applicant”) entered into a pawn agreement with a registered credit provider, being Erf 261 Nylstroom Beleggins CC trading as Cash Concerters Modimolle (hererin referred to as the “Respondent”). In terms of the aforementioned pawn agreement, the Respondent advanced an amount
SUMMARY During the period of March 2008 to March 2012 the appellant, Mr Andile Silatsha (“the Appellant”), was an inmate at St Albans Correctional Facility in Port Elizabeth. In October 2012, the Appellant instituted proceedings against the Minister of Correctional Services (“the Minister”) in the Port Elizabeth High Court, wherein damages were sought in respect