Legal Articles

In today’s financial and property markets, compliance is not just a legal requirement - it’s a safeguard for both businesses and clients. At VDM Attorneys, we take FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) and KYC (Know Your Customer) obligations seriously, ensuring that every transaction is both secure and transparent. But what exactly is FICA/KYC, why is it important, and what documents do clients need to provide?

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In Johannesburg, residents can apply to close off public roads with security booms, gates, or guardhouses. This is regulated by the JRA’s Road Closure Policy and requires formal approval before implementation.

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South Africa is embarking on one of its most ambitious infrastructure undertakings: a $25 billion grid expansion project that will add more than 14,000 km of transmission lines to the national network.

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An urgent court application is a procedure that asks the court to hear a matter sooner than the ordinary timetable allows. It exists to prevent harm that would occur if the case followed standard timeframes. Instead of weeks for notice and exchange of papers, the matter can be placed before a judge within days — or even hours — if the circumstances demand it.

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A listing appointment is your opportunity to build trust, position yourself as the expert, and set clear expectations with the seller. Too often, agents rely on generic presentations that focus on their own achievements instead of addressing the real issues sellers need to understand. If you want to stand out, make sure you cover three critical topics in every listing appointment: supply and demand, product placement, and buyer behaviour.

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Attorneys are officers of the court. This status gives them exclusive authority to issue summons, prepare pleadings, and appear in court on behalf of clients. When an attorney institutes proceedings, the debtor cannot sidestep the process; they are compelled to respond within fixed timeframes. 

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A claim for unpaid rent, for example, is unlikely to be heard in the same forum as a constitutional challenge or a multi-million rand commercial dispute. The choice between the High Court and the Magistrate’s Court shapes the speed of the proceedings, the costs involved, and even whether the court has the power to grant the relief you seek.

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Civil litigation refers to the legal process used to resolve disputes between private parties through the courts. A civil case definition is straightforward: it is any lawsuit where one party (the plaintiff) brings a claim against another party (the defendant) to enforce a right, recover damages, or obtain specific relief. 

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In South Africa, civil litigation provides a structured process for resolving disputes between individuals, companies, or organisations. Unlike criminal law, which deals with offences against the state, civil law is about settling disagreements and securing remedies for harm done. But not every dispute belongs in court.

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When disputes arise, the first instinct is often to “take it to court.” Litigation has long been the traditional path for resolving conflicts, but it is not always the most practical or beneficial one. Court processes can stretch on for years, cost enormous sums in legal fees, and play out in a very public forum.

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