Author: Kennedy Mudzuli

Acting Judge Cajee AJ of the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has ordered the trustees of the Amarosa Aftree-Oord Trust to repay R1,274,000 to the estate of the late Gabor Szabo, along with accrued interest and legal costs. This decision stems from an application filed by Johannes Lodewickus Venter Szabo, who is serving as executor for his late father’s estate. The case centres around a contract made in 2014 between the Szabo family and the Amarosa Aftree-Oord Trust, whereby the Szabos secured a lifelong occupational right to a unit in the retirement village of Amarosa. In exchange, the Szabos provided a…

The High Court’s Limpopo Division in Polokwane has overturned the conviction of a 17-year-old child offender, who was initially found guilty of culpable homicide in a tragic stabbing incident that occurred in September 2023. At the heart of the case was a confrontation between the child offender and the now deceased, who, along with his friends, escalated tensions that originated at their shared school. The altercation, which was ignited by verbal insults, quickly turned physical. According to testimony presented during the proceedings, the child offender was surrounded and assaulted by the now deceased and others, who initiated violence against him.…

The Eastern Cape High Court, Gqeberha has mandated the Summer Shuttle Services Pty) Ltd to pay R66,544 to the estate of the late Zamokuhle Madaka, stemming from a disputed taxi service operation following his death in July 2023. The court also set in motion a comprehensive investigation into the financial handling of the deceased’s taxi revenues, which has seen an array of legal wrangling between parties involved. The urgent application initiated by the estate sought to clarify and compel payments due for the use of three Toyota Quantum taxis registered under the deceased’s name. The applicant, Landile Philiso, who represents…

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has faced a significant judicial setback following the judgment regarding its treatment of employee Pholile Hoyo. In a ruling delivered in November, the Labour Appeal Court in Cape Town has ruled PRASA’s actions constituted unfair discrimination based on race, as well as unequal pay for equal work, in violation of the Employment Equity Act. This legal battle began when Hoyo, who has been associated with PRASA since 1999, filed a grievance in July 2016 after he was appointed as the Production Manager in Culemborg, but was allegedly denied an acting allowance while…

The High Court of South Africa’s Mpumalanga Division has granted a mother the permission to permanently relocate her minor daughter to Mauritius. This ruling comes following a contentious custody dispute with the child’s father, who opposed the move, citing a lack of prior consultation. The case revolves around the upbringing of the minor child, who was born on 5 April 2012 from a relationship between the applicant and the respondent. The couple’s relationship deteriorated shortly after the birth, leading to a complex custody arrangement. In 2015, they entered into a parenting plan awarding primary care and residence to the mother,…

The Bloemfontein High Court has upheld the life sentence of Tshokolo David Lesetla, affirming the conviction for the dreadful rape of a seven-year-old girl. This landmark decision, handed down on 14 November 2024, serves as a powerful reminder of the justice system’s dedication to protecting vulnerable witnesses, particularly children, in the face of horrific crimes. This harrowing case dates back to an April evening in 2010, when the young victim was sent on a simple errand to buy a soft drink—a mundane routine that would lead her into the clutches of Lesetla. Instead of a harmless trip, she was lured…

The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria has dismissed a claim against the MEC for Education and officials from Medicos Special School, following allegations of negligence regarding the safety and care of a student with cerebral palsy and significant intellectual impairment. The case centred around a tragic incident occurring on 26 August 2016, when the learner suffered head injuries while at the special needs institution in Soshanguve, Pretoria. His mother claimed the school’s administration and staff, including the Principal and Deputy Principal, had breached their duty of care, resulting in her son’s injury. Judge GN Moshoana, who authored the judgment, pointed out…

The Labour Appeal Court, sitting in Cape Town, has overturned a previous decision that set aside an arbitration award related to job grading disputes involving employees of the Overberg District Municipality. This landmark judgement, delivered on November 15, 2024, underlines the importance of fair labour practices within municipal employment structures. The case, initiated by the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) on behalf of employees, challenged the actions of the Overberg District Municipality and the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). At the heart of the appeal was the assertion that the municipality had committed an unfair labour…

A South African court has ruled in favour of a motorist who suffered significant injuries in a collision that took place on 30 June 2018. The ruling, by the Limpopo High Court, Polokwane, saw the plaintiff awarded R1,720,802.33 in damages after a lengthy legal battle against the Road Accident Fund (RAF), marking a crucial victory for victims of road accidents seeking justice and financial redress. The case stems from an accident where the plaintiff, driving a white Polo Vivo, collided with a minibus operated by the insured driver, Makgathi Sathekge. The incident stirred a legal dispute over who bore responsibility…