20/07/2024 Bertus Preller Child Maintenance, Divorce, Marital Regimes, Pension Funds accrual system, Arrear Maintenance, Asset Division, Case Law, community of property, Court Rulings, Divorce Act 70 of 1979, divorce settlements, Family Law, financial landscape, fund depletion, future maintenance, housing loans, legal complexities, Legal precedents, maintenance obligations, maintenance orders, marital dissolution, marital property law, Matrimonial Property Act 88 of 1984, Pension Funds, Pension Funds Amendment Bill 2024, pension interests, retirement benefits, retirement savings, South Africa, South African Law, Two-Pot retirement system The Two-Pot Retirement System and Maintenance: Revolutionising Divorce Settlements in South Africa under the Pension Funds Amendment Bill 2024. Introduction South Africa's financial landscape is on the brink of a significant transformation with the imminent implementation of the Two-Pot retirement system on 1 September 2024. This innovative approach to… READ MORE
12/06/2024 Bertus Preller Best Interests of the Child, Child maintenance against a deceased estate, Children, Costs, Exceptions, Maintenance, Maintenance Claims On Death, Procedure actuarial reports, best interests of the child, child maintenance, child support, children’s act, common law duty, Constitution Section 28(2), court analysis, Court Rulings, deceased estates, estate disputes, estate management, estate obligations, executors’ responsibilities, Family Law, Family Law cases, family law framework, financial needs, L.L v A.J.M, legal interpretation, legal obligations, Legal precedents, legal principles, maintenance calculations, maintenance claims, maintenance law, parental duty, South African Family Law, ZAGPPHC 523 Maintenance Claims Against Deceased Estates: Analysis of L.L v A.J.M and Others (014357/2022) [2024] ZAGPPHC 523 (7 June 2024). Background and Context of the Case The case L.L v A.J.M and Others (014357/2022) ZAGPPHC 523 (7 June 2024) involves a dispute over the maintenance claims made by L L,… READ MORE
22/02/2024 Bertus Preller Children, Guardianship, Parental Rights, Same Sex Couples adoption, best interests of the child, child care, child development, child protection, child welfare, child-centric approach, Children’s Act 38 of 2005, Contact rights, Court Rulings, custody rights, emotional well-being, Family Court, family dynamics, Family Law, family structures, foster care, guardianship application, Guardianship Rights, Legal Framework, Legal precedents, legal standing, non-biological guardianship, Parental Responsibilities, psychological assessments, psychological bonds, R.C v H.S.C, stepparent rights, visitation rights Expanding Family Boundaries: Navigating Non-Biological Guardianship Rights – R.C v H.S.C (A5033/22) [2023] ZAGPJHC 219; 2023 (4) SA 231 (GJ). 1. Introduction In this case the High Court delved deeply into the intricacies of guardianship, contact, and care rights under the Children's Act, with a keen focus on the welfare… READ MORE
02/02/2024 Bertus Preller Appeal, Mootness, Procedure admissibility, appeals, appellate proceedings, civil union, Court Rulings, customary marriage, division of estate, finality in trials, hearsay evidence, Herbstein and Van Winsen, jurisprudence, Legal Framework, Legal precedents, legal principles, lobola, Marital Disputes, matrimonial benefits, matrimonial property, mootness doctrine, N B v T B, Narius Moloto v The Pan Africanist Congress Of Azania, new evidence, practical effect, South African Law, Superior Courts Act, ZAECMHC Navigating Marital Disputes and New Evidence in Appeals: Insights from N B v T B and Another. – N B v T B and Another (2669/2021; CA 81/2022) [2024] ZAECMHC 8 (30 January 2024), also cited as N.P.B v T.I.B and Another – Appeal (CA 81/2022) [2024] ZAECMHC 4 (30 January 2024). Introduction In the case of N B v T B and Another (2669/2021; CA 81/2022) ZAECMHC 8 (30 January 2024), the court was presented with an appeal against the decision… READ MORE
24/01/2024 Bertus Preller Child Maintenance, Children, Maintenance Case Law Analysis, Cause of Action, Court Procedures, Court Rulings, Courtroom Tactics, Defense Strategy, Exception Handling, Exception Success, Judicial Reasoning, Legal Claims, Legal Clarification, Legal Disputes, Legal Doctrine, Legal Exceptions, Legal Framework, legal interpretation, Legal Obstructions, Legal precedents, legal principles, Legal Technicalities, Litigation Process, Litigation Strategy, Over-Technical Approach, Pleading Challenges, Pleading Sufficiency, Pleadings Assessment, Procedural Tactics, Substantive Law, Substantive Questions Navigating Parental Maintenance Obligations and Mastering Legal Exceptions: The KGANYAGO J Judgment in Context. – U.DJ v J.H.O (9169/2022) [2024] ZALMPPHC 2 (15 January 2024). Background and Plaintiff’s Claims The case involves the plaintiff and defendant, who are the parents of a child now of majority age. Following the breakdown of their relationship, the child… READ MORE
10/01/2024 Bertus Preller Divorce, Publication of Identities Constitutional Rights, Court Rulings, digital age challenges, divorce proceedings, ethical journalism, freedom of expression, Johncom Media case, legal balance, legal implications, Legal precedents, media and law, media reporting, press freedom, privacy in divorce, Privacy Rights, public interest, Section 12 Divorce Act, social media law, South African Family Law Balancing Act: Navigating Privacy and Press Freedom in South Africa’s Landmark Johncom Media Case: Johncom Media Investments Limited v M and Others (CCT 08/08) [2009] ZACC 5; 2009 (4) SA 7 (CC) ; 2009 (8) BCLR 751 (CC) (17 March 2009). In the landmark ruling that has reshaped the landscape of media reporting in divorce proceedings, the Constitutional Court of South Africa's decision in Johncom Media Investments Limited vs. M, PD,… READ MORE
05/12/2023 Bertus Preller Children, Costs, Guardianship, Immigration, Parental Rights Children's Best Interests, constitutional court decisions, constitutional law, Court Rulings, family life protection, family rights, family separation, family-centric immigration policies, foreign nationals in South Africa, human dignity in immigration, immigration act changes, immigration act invalidity, immigration case law, immigration policy reform, international human rights, legal amendments, legal implications for families, Legal precedents, mixed-nationality families, new family law case, Parental Responsibilities, permanent residency, South African citizenship, South African immigration law, spousal visas, visa regulations Navigating the Shift: How South African Immigration Law is Evolving to Protect Family Rights – Rayment and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others; Anderson and Others v Minister of Home Affairs and Others (CCT 176/22) [2023] ZACC 40 (4 December 2023) Introduction and Factual Background Chief Justice Zondo, along with Justices Kollapen, Madlanga, Majiedt, Makgoka, Mathopo, Potterill, Rogers, and Theron, presided over two applications seeking confirmation of an order of constitutional… READ MORE
30/11/2023 Bertus Preller Costs, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Hiding Assets, International Divorce Appeal Process, Asset Concealment, Co-ownership, Court Rulings, Divorce, Family Law, Financial Disputes, Legal Consequences South African Law, legal obligations, Legal Perspective, Legal precedents, Legal Representation, Legal Strategy, maintenance claims, Marital Assets, Namibian Law, Property Division, Property Transfer, Public Policy, Trust Agreements Divorce and Deception: A Landmark Case on Hidden Assets and Legal Consequences – Insights from Namibian Law: Oberholzer v Loots and another (SA 33-2021) NASC [2023] (22 November 2023) Background and Relationship between the Parties The Appellant and the Respondent were involved in a personal relationship. During this period, they lived together and were engaged in the management and… READ MORE
23/11/2023 Bertus Preller Accrual Calculation, anti-dissipatory relief, Divorce, Marital Regimes, Settlement agreements Accrual Calculation, Antenuptial Contract, Asset Disclosure, Asset Division, Court Rulings, Divorce Law, divorce proceedings, divorce settlements, Estate Valuation, Financial Outcomes, Financial Settlements, legal implications, Legal Insights, Liability Consideration, Marital Assets., Marriage Dissolution, matrimonial property, Matrimonial Property Act, Property Valuation, South African Law Timing is Everything: The Crucial Role of Accrual Calculation Date in Divorce Cases. R.D.M v M.T.M (M608/22) [2023] ZANWHC 216 (21 November 2023). The facts of the case, as presented in the judgment, revolve around an application for the provisional sequestration of the respondent's estate, following the dissolution of a marriage under South… READ MORE
21/11/2023 Bertus Preller Adversarial Legal System, Alimony, Costs, Divorce, Financial Disclosure, Interim Maintenance, Maintenance, Rule 43, Spousal Maintenance Affidavit Analysis, Attorney Conduct, child maintenance, Condonation, Constitutional Challenges, Court Rulings, divorce proceedings, Family Law, financial disclosure, interim relief, Legal Ethics, Legal precedents, Legal Procedure, Litigation Tactics, maintenance pendente lite, Procedural Compliance, Prolixity in Affidavits, Rule 30 Challenge, Rule 43 Application, South African High Court Navigating the Complex Waters of Financial Disclosure in Rule 43 Applications and Legal Ethics: A Closer Look at a Landmark Ruling and the Conduct of the Respondent’s Attorney. I P v N P ; In re: N P v I P (16768/2023) ZAWCHC 170 (20 November 2023) Analysis of Rule 30 and Rule 43 Applications Overview of the… READ MORE