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South Africa has one of the world’s poorest road safety records, in fact, the country’s roads are among the most dangerous in the world. The statistics are nothing short of alarming. Roughly 1 million road accidents are reported every year. This is according to a report by the World Health Organisation, which estimates a fatality rate of 31.9 deaths per 100 000 people, while the global average is only 18 deaths per 100 000 people. What is the Road Accident Fund (RAF)?

Life’s journey certainly gets a little more exciting for graduates: after entering the job market, landing a dream job and earning a salary, your focus starts shifting some first significant purchases, like a car or a home. But, even with a substantial income, paying for those items in cash isn’t always a feasible option, and you might look to taking out a loan to help you out. However, life can take unexpected twists and turns, and it might get to a point where the repayments get overwhelming to the point where they are unaffordable, and you get blacklisted by a creditor. Fortunately,

In 2018, Johanna Mamaila’s story made headlines across South Africa: the 50-year-old, who was living in an informal settlement in Mamelodi, was excited to move into her new RDP house. However, her dream soon turned into a nightmare when she discovered the house had also been bought by two other people. It soon came to light that Mamaila was scammed by a fraudulent property company, and it cost her R185 000. Sadly, RDP housing scams are a growing trend in South Africa, and Mamaila is

In late 2018, people across the country celebrated the decriminalisation of marijuana use in South Africa. The Constitutional Court ruled that laws prohibiting South Africans from cultivating and smoking dagga in private were unconstitutional. Lawmakers now have to create new laws and regulations that give clarity on exactly what “private use” means and the amount of dagga that smokers are allowed to grow and have in their possession. While this is good news for many, those who had previously been found

For many people in South Africa, adopting a baby is the only viable way for them to expand their families. Whether it’s due to fertility issues or simply a moral decision, adopting a child in need can radically change people’s lives and make a dream come true for many. Not to mention, for the children themselves, considering the rising epidemic of child abandonment in South Africa, it gives them a chance at living a full and prosperous life. As the Centre of Child Law

Young professionals looking to purchase their first property often lean towards apartments or homes in a complex – also called sectional titles. Not only are these properties the more affordable option, but they usually come with other benefits, such as added security and amenities. Of course, there are some drawbacks, specifically for current or prospective pet owners. However, keeping pets in a sectional title scheme is possible, but, as with most things, some terms and conditions apply. What exactly is a

South Africans will have more control over their mobile data bundles at the end of February 2019. This is thanks to The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (Icasa) End-User and Subscriber Service Charter amendment regulations, taking effect. The amendment regulations were supposed to have come into effect in June 2018, but implementation was delayed after MTN and CellC took Icasa to court. The court sided with the two operators, and implementation was postponed until this year, giving networks more time

Getting married has different meanings to different people in South Africa. For some, a traditional wedding might mean a fancy white dress and a long walk down the aisle, while for others, it is more of a colourful celebration of heritage and age-old African customs. But, no matter how we celebrate love and commitment in all its diversity, getting married is always a legal affair. South African laws don’t just recognise and protect civil marriages, but also customary marriages as long as specific requirements are met as set out in what is known as the Customary Marriages Act 120

Over the last few years, Parliament’s police portfolio committee has frequently raised concerns over the growing number of civil claims against the South African Police Services. Just last year, the Minister of Police was ordered to pay almost R600 000 in damages to a teenager who was unlawfully arrested and detained. The teenager was arrested on suspicion of robbery and was subsequently thrown in a dirty jail cell and assaulted by inmates. Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated incident. It is reported