| News
on the Electronic Front |
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Recent
Judgments Available on the Internet |
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Constitutional
Court of South Africa
- www.constitutionalcourt.org.za
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Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa
- http://www.supremecourtofappeal.gov.za/index.html
; wwwserver.law.wits.ac.za/sca/index.php ;
http://www.uovs.ac.za/fac/law/appeal/index.php |
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Equality Courts
White River
Equality court finds artist guilty of hate
speech for anti-Semitic graffiti - 18 June
A dog-parlour owner who painted anti-Semitic graffiti on the walls
of his Jewish neighbour's home was found guilty of hate speech in
the first such case to come before the equality court. -
Sunday Independent website
Keyphrases :
Anti-Semitism
Gerhard Barkhuizen
Yaron Fishman
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Labour Courts
Call for clarity on coloureds - 22
June
The trade union Solidarity wants to set a legal question to the
Labour Court to obtain legal certainty on the status of coloured
people in affirmative action. -
Fin24 website
Women's scarf row heads to labour court
- 23 June
Fairouz Adams, dismissed by correctional services for wearing a
headscarf and refusing to tuck in her shirt, is jubilant after
hearing she can take the department to the Labour Court. Adams, a
Muslim social worker at Worcester prison, and the department failed
to reach an agreement during a Commission for Conciliation,
Mediation and Arbitration hearing in Worcester on Thursday. -
IOL
website
Durban
Court saves the day for textile workers
- 19 June
Workers at a Durban clothing company, Microzone Trading, were
given a temporary reprieve last week when the high court granted
an urgent interdict stopping the sale of the company's equipment,
which had been attached by order of a writ of execution from the
labour court. Microzone is challenging the validity of the writ
against the company by the clothing industry's bargaining council,
which was issued to recover levies owed to the council, as well as
a fine, legal costs, and provident and sick fund contributions
amounting to R66 542. -
Business Report website
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Land
Claims Court of South Africa
- www.law.wits.ac.za/lcc/
10 April 2006
LCC01R/06
Smith v Ndweni
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Tax Courts
- http://www.sars.gov.za/tax_judgments/tax_judgments.htm |
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Cape
Provincial Division
- http://law.sun.ac.za/cgi-bin/list.php
15 June
2006
10179/2002
Marco d'Ambrosi v Dr K Michalowski and Others
The plaintiff claims damages in the amount of R16 081 425,95
arising from the medical negligence of the defendants. His action
is based on their failure, during December 2000, to display the
necessary degree of skill, expertise and judgment in assessing,
diagnosing, advising and treating his medical condition known as
oesophagitis caused by oesaphageal reflux. The merits of the
action have been settled, the defendants having conceded liability
for the plaintiff's claim. The quantum of the claim has also, for
the most part, been settled. Only two legal issues remain. The
first is whether the cost of living differential between
Johannesburg, where the plaintiff now resides, and London, where
he intended to reside from the beginning of 2001, should be taken
into account in assessing his claim for past and future loss of
earnings or earning capacity. The second is whether medical aid
scheme benefits should play a role in determining his claim for
past and future hospital and medical expenses.
14 June 2006
9644/2004
Absa Bank Ltd v J L Erasmus
The plaintiff's case is based on money
lent and advanced on an overdraft facility that is secured by a
covering bond over the defendant's farm.
The defendant pleaded that plaintiff fraudulently firstly,
converted a loan on a first mortgage bond at an interest rate of
not less than 17 per cent, to a loan on an overdraft facility to
enable it to impose a higher interest rate
; secondly, included a costs clause of R52 000 without his
knowledge and consent ; and thirdly,
effected withdrawals, payments and unauthorized debits without his
knowledge and consent. During the course of the trial, defendant
introduced a further defence of prescription. He alleged that
plaintiff's claim became prescribed by
efflux ion of time. The defendant's
counterclaim is based on pain and suffering, ill-health, emotional
stress, financial ruin, domestic problems, loss of his
multi-million project and black-listing of his name, which all
resulted from the fraudulent conduct of plaintiff. The plaintiff
denied these allegations and, more particularly, denied that its
conduct was directly or indirectly the cause of defendant's
problems. The plaintiff furthermore disputed that defendant
suffered any damages and pleaded that if defendant succeeds in
establishing such damages, plaintiff denies that there is a causal
connection between the breach of contract alleged by him and such
damages and/or that plaintiff is responsible or liable for the
payment thereof. The defendant's
counterclaim constitutes both the elements of a contractual
liability and that of a delictual liability.
Media24
loses Wegbreek case - 23 June
Outdoor magazine Weg's publisher Bun Booyens said on Friday
Media24 will decide next week if it would appeal a court ruling
which allows the publication of new Afrikaans title Wegbreek. -
Fin24
website
Widow of film tycoon in court for forgery
- 16 June
Widow Debra Terry appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on
Thursday for the first time in connection with the forged will of
her late husband, which left local film production giant and
Intellvision owner Bruce Anderson-Terry's entire estate to her.
With the testimony of handwriting experts, Cape Deputy Judge
President Jeanette Traverso declared in 2003 that the signatures
of both Bruce and now deceased witness Ricky Cox had been forged
on a will that itself was questionably authentic. -
IOL
website
What became of Keystone money? -
15 June
Questions over who benefited financially from the sale of
Keystone, an architectural firm that was assimilated by LeisureNet
before it was liquidated, were posed yesterday in the Cape High
Court during a section 174 application. -
allAfrica
website
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Durban and Coast Local
Division
Dept appeals against court decision
- 23 June
The correctional services department has been granted leave to
appeal against the High Court ruling compelling the department to
provide antiretrovirals to Durban-Westville inmates. -
allAfrica
website
SA Aids prisoners to get anti-retrovirals
- 23 June
A group of prisoners with HIV/Aids in South Africa obtained a
court ruling this week ordering their jail to supply
anti-retroviral drugs. A high court in Durban gave Westville
prison two weeks to come up with a treatment programme involving
the life-extending medicine. -
Guardian Unlimited website
Press Statement by
the Aids Law Project
23 June 2006
Victory for
prisoners at Westville Prison as Durban High Court order access to
ARV treatment
The AIDS Law
Project (ALP), legal representatives of fifteen prisoners at
Westville Prison and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), are
satisfied with the judgment handed down by Judge Pillay in the
Durban High Court yesterday. The court ordered that all
restrictions that prevented our clients as well as other
prisoners in a similar medical situation from accessing ARV
treatment be removed with immediate effect.
The Government
of the Republic of South Africa, Head of Westville
Correctional Centre, Minister of Correctional Services, Area
Commissioner of Correctional Services (KZN), Minister of
Health and MEC for Health (KZN) (the Respondents) were ordered
to provide access to ARV treatment in accordance with the
National Department of Health's Operational Plan for
Comprehensive HIV and AIDS Care, Management and Treatment for
South Africa. The Respondents were further ordered to serve on
us and lodge with the Registrar of the High Court an affidavit
by 7 July 2006 which sets out the manner in which it will
comply with the court order. Our clients will then be entitled
to comment on the affidavit. If however there is disagreement
between the parties, the matter may be enrolled for a court
hearing.
The judgment
comes after months of failed negotiation attempts between the
ALP, our clients and the Department of Correctional Services.
As a result, during this period, our clients and other HIV
positive prisoners even embarked on a hunger strike so that
their grievances would be heard and addressed.
Our clients as
well as the other prisoners are relieved that, after months of
failed negotiations, they will get immediate access to
life-saving treatment. We are therefore concerned and worried
that the Department of Correctional Services publicly said
yesterday that they would appeal the judgment. We urge them
not to do so as this will not be in the best medical interests
of prisoners with HIV who need immediate access to life-saving
treatment.
Instead the ALP
urges the Department of Correctional Services to meet with the
Department of Health and all other relevant stakeholders in
order to ensure that future conflicts such as that at
Westville prison are avoided and that prisoners in need of
medical treatment to which they are entitled by policy and law
are able to access it without further delays.
We are further concerned about
official statements made by representatives of the Department
of Correctional Services which have misrepresented the
judgment. We call on the Department of Correctional Services
to respect the court and not to issue inaccurate statements.
A full copy of the judgment
will be available on the ALP website at
http://www.alp.org.za.
For further comment contact
:
Michelle
Govender at 011-717
8631 or
Mark Heywood at 083-634
8806
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Zuma Case
Zuma judge to be revealed on trial day
- 19 June
Only when former deputy president Jacob Zuma's corruption trial
kicks off on July 31 will the defence teams and the National
Prosecuting Authority know who will be the presiding judge. -
IOL
website
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Eastern
Cape Division -
http://wwwserver.law.wits.ac.za/echc/index.php
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Free
State
Provincial Division
- www.uovs.ac.za/fac/law/highcourt/
30 March
2006
A72/2005
Auction Alliance Vrystaat (Pty) Ltd v Bobbert
Hancke et Wright, RR, Malherbe, RP Dissentiente Per Hancke et
Wright, RR: Handelsbeperking – verstryk voordat aansoek om verlof
om te appelleer aangehoor is – artikel 21A Wet 59/1959 – vraag of
. . .
9 February
2006
A38/2005
Engelbrecht v POF
Koste - hersiening van taksasie - landdros bekragtig klerk van die
hof se taksasie met koste. Artikel 81 van Wet 32 van 1944 verbied
nie die landdros om 'n kostebevel te maak nie. Appèl - te . . .
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Natal
Provincial Division
- http://www.ukzn.ac.za/law/npd.html
Case closed as Piet Meyer wins freedom
- 23 June
Police Senior Superintendent Piet Meyer is a free man after the
Pietermaritzburg High Court on Friday rejected the State's
application for leave to appeal against the setting aside of the
police officer's bribery conviction and 10-year jail sentence. The
court in February set aside Meyer's conviction by the Durban
regional court. He was convicted of having corruptly accepted
bribes from casino bosses David Winter and Guilo Bertolli. -
IOL
website
Court challenge could change common law
- 20 June
A court ruling forcing a psychologist treating a rape victim to
hand over confidential notes of all counselling sessions to the
alleged rapist was subjecting rape survivors to secondary abuse at
the hands of the criminal justice system. -
IOL
website
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Transvaal
Provincial Division
Nqakula admits wrongdoing in Khalid saga
- 21 June
The police should have explained the circumstances surrounding the
arrest and deportation of Pakistani national Rashid Khalid to the
media. This is according to Safety and Security Minister Charles
Nqakula, who was speaking on Tuesday at a press conference in
Johannesburg aimed at building a better relationship between the
media and the SA Police Service. -
IOL website
Rashid motion 'not urgent' - 19
June
An application to have the deportation of Pakistani national
Khalid Mahmood Rashid declared unlawful is not urgent, the
Pretoria High Court ruled on Monday. -
News24
website
Khalid Rashid still in the headlines
- 19 June
Attorney Zehir Omar will ask the Pretoria High Court today to
order the government to facilitate a process that will allow a
deported Pakistani national to see his mother by June 24. -
SABC News
website
State accused of ill-treating Arab nationals
- 18 June
A respected human rights group is trying to join the fray against
the expulsion from South Africa of Pakistani Khalid Rashid,
claiming they can prove a pattern of government ill-treatment of
Arab nationals. -
IOL website
Keyphrase :
Wits Law Clinic
SA may have breached Constitution in Rashid
saga - 16 June
Shadrack Gutto, a law expert, says there is a prima facie case of
government acting unconstitutionally in the deportation of Khalid
Rashid, a Pakistani national. This relates to the constitutional
requirement that government must obtain an assurance that deported
and extradited individuals will not face the death penalty in
countries they are sent to. -
SABC News website
Rashid could face death penalty in Pakistan
- 16 June
The controversy surrounding the disappearance of Khalid Rashid, a
Pakistani national, is about to take on a constitutional nature.
SABC News has learnt that a potential loophole exists for Zehir
Omar, Rashid's lawyer, to question whether a guarantee was
obtained from the Pakistani government that Rashid would not be
executed if found guilty of terrorism. -
SABC News
website
Omar not to be arrested now - 15
June
Zehir Omar, lawyer for Pakistani national Khalid Mahmood Rashid,
will not be detained, the Pretoria High Court ruled on Thursday. -
IOL
website
State seeks to have Rashid lawyer jailed
- 15 June
The Department of Home Affairs will today ask the Pretoria High
Court to jail Gauteng lawyer Zehir Omar for contempt of court.
This comes a day after Omar, a lawyer for deported Pakistani
national Khalid Rashid, was accused by the cabinet of
"besmirching" South Africa's name. -
allAfrica
website
Khalid Rashid lawyer hits out at Cabinet
- 15 June
If anyone had besmirched the country's good name, it was the South
African government, a lawyer for Pakistani national Khalid Rashid
charged. -
allAfrica website
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Witwatersrand Local
Division
17 May 2006
7026/05
P G Bison Limited v Johannesburg Glasswork (Pty) Ltd
Developments in South African insolvency
law / contributed by Tienie Cronje, researcher at the
SALRC
(http://www.doj.gov.za/salrc/index.htm)
The attached
decision of the Witwatersrand Local Division of the High Court
does not represent a major development in the insolvency law,
but it is nevertheless interesting.
The Master of the
High Court's decision to expunge a claim in terms of section 45(3)
of the Insolvency Act seems to have been based solely on the fact
that the claim could be set aside as a voidable disposition
(paragraph [21]). Paragraph [17] deals with authority for the view
that a claim which may be voidable stands until proper (court)
proceedings are taken to set it aside. Although the court remarks
(paragraph [18]) that the Master did not purport to invalidate or
set aside the disposition, the fact that the disposition could be
a voidable disposition seems to be the Master's only reason for
expunging the claim.
Another interesting
aspect of the decision is the following
: the account was confirmed by the
Master on 21 October 2004. It was several months later before the
application to review the Master's decision was launched. It seems
probable that payments were made by the liquidator in terms of the
confirmed account - in terms of section 410(3) of the Companies
Act receipts must be lodged within two months after confirmation
of an account. The question whether the liquidator commenced
distribution does not feature at all. As is pointed out in
paragraph [13] the court may permit the re-opening of a confirmed
account, but in terms of section 408 of the Companies Act this
must be done before the liquidator commences with the
distribution. In cases where a dividend has been paid, the Supreme
Court of Appeal has expressed doubt whether the court may review
the confirmation of the account on the ground of just error or
even on the ground of fraud. However, the court noted that fraud
was a special case and that it had been said that "fraud unravels
everything". (Gilbey Distillers & Vintners v Morris 1991 (1) SA
648 (A) 659. See also Morris and Strydom v The Master 1994 (2) SA
731 (N) 735).
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Regional Courts
Durban
Now Nikita's mother faces charges
- 23 June
Shanaaz Shaik, the mother of little Nikita Pillay - who died after
a vicious beating, allegedly at the hands of her father - will be
arrested and will stand trial alongside her husband. On Thursday
the Durban regional court heard that the arrest of Shaik, who had
recently given birth, had been stayed on humanitarian grounds
after the death of the baby, the second child she had lost in less
than three months. -
IOL website
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Magistrates Courts
Bishop Lavis
SAA 'hijack' : Zimbabwean in court
- 19 June
A slightly built Zimbabwean University of Cape Town (UCT) student,
Tinashe Rioga (21), appeared briefly in the Bellville Magistrate's
Court on Monday in connection with an alleged aircraft hijacking
attempt. -
Mail & Guardian website
Hijack: cops 'had
to dominate' - 19 June
The police on Monday defended the conduct of the Special Task
Force (STF) aboard the SAA plane that was subject to a hijacking
attempt at the weekend. -
News24 website
Deidre Hendricks, an Airports Company South Africa (Acsa)
spokesperson, says syringes are allowed on board South African
flights due to health reasons. Hendricks was responding to the
question of the day : how did the
botched hijacking suspect get through security with a life
threatening object? -
SABC News
website
SAA flight in attempted hijacking
- 17 June
An SAA flight from Cape Town to Johannesburg was the target of
what appears to be an attempted hijacking on Saturday morning. -
News24
website
Camperdown
Court interpreter killed in KZN
- 21 June
A court interpreter was found shot dead about ten metres from his
parked car in Umsunduzi in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, police said
on Wednesday. Police recognised Gordon, who was an interpreter at
the Camperdown Magistrate's Court. -
IOL
website
Malmesbury
We won't give horses back, says SPCA
- 18 June
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says it will
contest any attempt by Swartland veterinarian Louis Francois Naude
to reclaim horses that were confiscated from his Glenlilly farm in
February 2004. -
IOL website
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Advertising
Standards Authority
- http://www.asasa.org.za/
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Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa
- http://www.bccsa.co.za/ |
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Commission
for Concilation Mediation and Arbitration
- http://www.ccma.org.za/
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Competition
Commission, Tribunal and
Appeal Court
- http://www.compcom.co.za/ ; http://www.comptrib.co.za/
Competition Tribunal approval cans
competitive concerns in favour of efficiency - 17 June
In 2005, the Competition Tribunal approved the large merger of the
respective canning businesses of Langeberg (part of Tiger Brands)
and Ashton Canning, subject to certain conditions. Approximately
80% of the merged entity's production of canned deciduous fruit
and fruit puree is exported, but the decision correctly focused on
the effect that the merger would have on competition in the
domestic South African market. - Article by David Thompson of
Cliffe Dekker Inc on the
Mondaq website
* * * Free subscription required * * *
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Financial Services Board
- http://www.fsb.co.za/ |
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Pension Funds Adjudicator
- http://www.pfa.org.za/
PFA slams impenetrable policy documents
- 22 June
The pension funds adjudicator (PFA) called on life insurance
companies yesterday to provide policyholders with documents that
were written in clear and understandable language. -
Business
Report website
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Public Accountants' and Auditors' Board
- http://www.paab.co.za/ |
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Wireless Application Service Providers' Association - http://www.waspa.org.za/ |
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Government
and Legislation |
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South
Africa Government Information
- http://www.gov.za/
Statements and
Speeches
20 June
2006
Speech by the Minister of Correctional
Services Hon. BMN Balfour (MP) on the tabling of report of the
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services
19 June
2006
W Cape scraps fees in 419 schools
16 June 2006
Address to the opening of the Cape Town
Book Fair by Minister of Finance, Mr Trevor Manuel,
International Convention Centre
16 June 2006
Statement by Cobus Dowry, Minister of
Agriculture, Western Cape : Historic agreement signed this
morning in Stellenbosch Road forward for Jonkershoek
15 June 2006
Statement of comments by President George
W Bush on SA assisting Iraq
15 June 2006
South African Government condemns
escalation of violence in the Middle East
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Parliamentary Monitoring Group
- http://www.pmg.org.za/
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Documents may generally be accessed immediately by clicking on the
underlined hyperlinks. Subscription-protected documents are
indicated by * * * Subscription required * * * ; KZNLS
members who require access to restricted documents should
cut-and-paste the reference/s into an e-mail to
help@lawlibrary.co.za. |
Interesting
Documents and New Bills
Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences) Amendment Bill [B50-2003] as introduced on 19 June 2006
http://www.pmg.org.za/bills/060619b50-03.htm
Committee Minutes
Agriculture and
Land Affairs Portfolio Committee
13 June 2006
Address by Deputy Minister ; Isiqongo
BEE/Agri Project : Briefing ; Chinese delegation visit
Arts and Culture
Portfolio Committee
20 June 2006
National Heritage Trust : Promotion and
preserving of environmental cultural heritage
13 June 2006
Arts and Culture Budget : Minister's
briefing ; Department and National Film and Video Foundation :
Discussion on areas of concern
Correctional
Services Portfolio Committee
Defence Portfolio
Committee
20 June 2006
Denel briefing : creating a viable Denel
13 June 2006
Committee Minutes ; Heitman and De Coning
matter postponed
Education
Portfolio Committee
20 June 2006
Integrated Quality Management System
implementation : Department briefing
13 June 2006
Impact of ASGISA and mechanisms to reduce
school dropouts : Department briefing
Environmental
Affairs and Tourism Portfolio Committee
20 June 2006
Sustainable Development National Strategy
: EIA's ; Biodiversity Act : Department briefings
Finance Select
Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
19 June 2006
'Bulking' in the insurance industry :
Briefing by Financial Services Board
Banks, insurers distance themselves from
industry bulking - 20 June
Old Mutual and Liberty Group, two of South Africa's three
biggest insurers, said none of their businesses had posted
illicit profit from administering retirement funds without
disclosing the income to customers. -
Business Report website
Secret profits through bulking under
scrutiny - 18 June
Retirement fund administrators and
regulators are scheduled to appear before Parliament’s finance
committee this week to deal with secret profit-making through
practices such as bulking.
The country’s largest pension fund administrator,
Alexander Forbes, has admitted that it bulked funds and creamed
off the interest, prompting the inquiry. Alexander Forbes has
agreed to repay R368m in secret profits it made back to its
retirement fund clients and R12m to an educational fund for
trustees. -
Business Day website
Pension funds may be pocketing pooled
interest - 19 June
As many as 40 of South Africa's biggest retirement fund
administrators may have illicitly earned interest income on the
assets they control, the nation's Financial Services Board said.
-
Business Report website
Bulking is good : FSB - 19 June
There was nothing wrong with bulking per se, Financial Services
Board (FSB) deputy executive officer Dube Tshidi told
parliament's finance portfolio committee on Monday. -
Fin24
website
14 June 2006
Taxation Laws Amendment Bill : Finalisation
Keyphrases :
Second Small Business Tax Amnesty and Amendment of Taxation Laws
Bill [B15-2006]
Small Business Tax Amnesty and Amendment of Taxation Laws Bill
[B14-2006]
14 June 2006
Appropriation Bill ; Committee Report on Provincial
Expenditure Hearings ; Annual Committee Report : Adoption
Foreign Affairs
Portfolio Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
14 June 2006
Spanish Ambassador : Briefing ; Committee
reports : Adoption
Home Affairs
Portfolio Committee
20 June 2006
Committee Reports : Adoption
Justice and
Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
20 June 2006
Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment
Bill [B50-2003]
13 June 2006
Repeal of Black Administration Act and
Amendment of Certain Laws Amendment Bill : Finalisation ;
Remuneration of Magistrates Committee Report
Justice Portfolio
Committee, Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Life,
Status and Quality of Life of Women and Select Committee on
Security and Constitutional Affairs : Joint meeting
19 June 2006
Sexual Offences (Redrafted) Bill : Informal briefing ;
Magistrates Salaries Committee Report : Adoption
Labour Portfolio
Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
20 June 2006
South African Graduate Development
Association : Briefing
Minerals and
Energy Portfolio Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
14 June 2006
Electrification Programme Budget
Allocations : Treasury briefing (aborted)
Provincial and
Local Government Portfolio Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
13 June 2006
Youth development, employment and
citizenship : Briefing
Public Accounts
Standing Committee (SCOPA) ; Housing Portfolio Committee
14 June 2006
Housing subsidy allocations in provincial
departments : Hearings
Public Enterprises
Portfolio Committee
14 June 2006
Briefing by Department and Eskom on
capital expenditure programmes
Public Service and
Administration Portfolio Committee
19 June 2006
Qualified audit opinions on Departments :
Briefing by Auditor General ; Implementation of Committee Report
on Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and North West ;
Committee Annual Report
14 June 2006
Capacity-building across the three spheres
of government : Department briefing
13 June 2006
Recruitment strategies for the Public
Service : Briefings
Public Services
Portfolio Committee
21 June 2006
Role and Independence of Public Service
Commission ; Review of Chapter 9 and 10 Institutions : Briefing
by Minister of Public Service and Administration
Public Works
Portfolio Committee
20 June 2006
New Minister on her vision for the
department
13 June 2006
Property Sector Transformation Charter ;
ASGISA Strategy : Briefing by Department
Science and
Technology Portfolio Committee
13 June 2006
Water Research Commission : Briefing
Social Development
Portfolio Committee
14 June 2006
Draft Committee Programme for 2nd and 3rd
terms
Sport and
Recreation Portfolio Committee
20 June 2006
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special Measures Bill :
Discussion
14 June 2006
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special
Measures Bill : Deliberation
13 June 2006
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special
Measures Bill : Deliberations
12 June 2006
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Special
Measures Bill : Deliberations
Trade and Industry
Portfolio Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
14 June 2006
Cooperatives Act Regulations : Briefing
Transport
Portfolio Committee
* * * Subscription required * * *
14 June 2006
Committee Report : Study tour to Latin
America
Water Affairs and
Forestry Portfolio Committee
14 June 2006
Department Quarterly Financial Report /
Human Resources Turnaround Strategy : Briefing
Portfolio
Committee on Water Affairs and Forestry
20 June 2006
Water quality and water security : Public
hearings
NCOP Committees
Economic Affairs
Select Committee
20 June 2006
Corporate Laws Amendment Bill [B6-2006] : Briefing
Select Committee
on Education and Recreation
14 June 2006
South African Sports Confederation and
Olympic Committee : Briefing
Select Committee
on Land and Environmental Affairs
20 June 2006
Third Term Programme : Discussion and
adoption
19 June 2006
Genetically Modified Organisms Bill : Briefing
13 June 2006
Deeds Registries Amendment Bill, Sectional Title Amendment Bill
: Adoption
Local Government
and Administration Select Committee
20 June 2006
Impact of power cuts on municipalities :
Briefing by Cape Town and Johannesburg municipalities
Social Services
Select Committee
20 June 2006
National Development Agency Annual Report
2005 and Strategic Plan 2006/07 : Briefing
Joint Committees
Improvement of
Quality of Life and Status of Children, Youth and Disabled
Persons Joint Monitoring Committee
9 June 2006
Child survival : Children's Institute and
IDASA Briefings
Joint Rules
Committee : Joint Subcommittee on Review of Joint Rules
14 June 2006
Joint Subcommittee on Review of Joint
Rules : Deliberations on Draft Rules
AdHoc Committees
Appointment of
Auditor General : Ad Hoc Committee
20 June 2006
Shortlisting of candidates for post of
Auditor General
Requests for
Submissions and Hearings
[Before 10 July
2006]
The
Firearms Control
Amendment Bill has been tabled in Parliament and referred
to the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security for
consideration and report. Please find the changes of the
Act below inside the Bill.
The bill is
accessible here :
http://www.pmg.org.za/bills/060606b12-06.pdf.
Details on changes
to the Act are here :
http://www.pmg.org.za/docs/2006/safetyhearing.htm.
Any person who or
organisation which would like to make written submissions to the
Committee may do so by no later than 10 July 2006.
Written
submissions should be addressed to : The Secretary to
Parliament, P O Box 15, Cape Town 8000, and marked for the
attention of Mr Jeremy Michaels.
Enquiries : Mr
Jeremy Michaels, telephone 021-403 3806, fax 021-403 2808 or
email
jmichales@parliament.gov.za.
Issued by
Honourable Maggie Sotyu, Chairperson : Portfolio Committee on
Safety and Security (National Assembly).
2010 FIFA World Cup
South Africa Special Measures Bill [before 7 July 2006]
The Portfolio
Committee on Sport and Recreation is calling for written and
verbal submissions on the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
Special Measures Bill
[http://www.pmg.org.za/bills/060620b13-06(reintro).pdf]
and [http://www.pmg.org.za/bills/060620b-16-06.pdf]
Based on the
written submissions and in line with Parliament's vision of
providing national forum for public to consider issues and
seeking to act as a voice of the people, the Portfolio Committee
on Sport and Recreation will decide who will be required to make
verbal presentations.
Comments,
contributions and views on the Bill are encouraged from the
interested and affected stakeholders and members of the public.
The deadline for
written submissions is Friday, 7 July 2006 at 12:00, written
submissions and enquiries may be forwarded to the Committee
Secretary, Ntombekhaya Mbuqe, telephone 021-403 3761 or fax
021-403 8231/2808 or email
nmbuge@parliament.gov.za
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Legislation
Mining Royalties Bill
Mining Bill announced soon - 16
June
Mining houses are anxiously awaiting an announcement on mining
royalties legislation, which can be expected at the next cabinet
meeting in two weeks time, government spokesperson Joel
Netshitenzhe said. Netshitenzhe said the processing of the bill
had been completed by National Treasury and would go to Cabinet
committees over the next couple of weeks before being heard by
Cabinet on June 28. -
Dispatch Online website
Regulation of
Interception of Communications and Communication-Related
Information Act 70 of 2002 (RICA)
- http://www.internet.org.za/ricpci_amendment_bill_2006.pd ;
http://www.pmg.org.za/bills/060523b9-06.pdf
Go slow on cell phone registration
- 19 June
Legislation to crack down on the use of cell phones for criminal
purposes and to make it possible to intercept criminal calls
should be phased in over two or three years, says the Cape Town
Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Chamber was
commenting on new legislation designed to ensure that every phone
was registered and details of the owner and his or her address
were on record. -
Cape Business News website
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Useful
Links and Items of Interest |
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Legal Profession
United Kingdom
BIALL Conference Notes : Law Reform And
Libraries - 23 June
One of the sessions at the conference - chaired by Chris Holland,
featured Andrew Holroyd - Deputy Vice President, The Law Society.
The title of the session was: "The Reform of Legal Services: Facing
the Challenge". A major question posed in this session was
: what might the implications of these reforms be and how
will it affect those who work in the legal sector? At question time
there was quite a lot of discussion from the floor about where this
would leave law firms and their librarians. Someone asked whether
the Law Society would be canvassing opinion from BIALL specifically
and Andrew Holroyd said that BIALL may contribute. -
Managing Information website
BIALL -
http://www.biall.org.uk
Row brewing over Ombudsman role -
19 June
The Financial Services Ombudsman will attempt to take over the
handling of complaints about lawyers. In a move that will be opposed
by the legal profession, Walter Merricks. the Ombudsman, argues that
the proposed new Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) could be run by
his own office. -
Times Online website
Legal Services Bill
Chancery Lane delivers verdict on reform
plans - 15 June
The Law Society squared up to the Government last week as
Chancery Lane delivered its closely-watched evidence to the
parliamentary committee tasked with picking through the Legal
Services Bill. -
Legal Week website
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Southern Africa
Litigation Centre
- http://www.southernafricalawcenter.org/salc/home.aspx
Press release
Report back for
SALC's first year
22 June 2006
The Southern
Africa litigation Centre (SALC), a joint initiative of the Open
Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) and the
International Bar Association (IBA), is today one year old.
In its first year
of operation SALC has provided assistance and support to over 15
human rights cases within the southern Africa region. Cases
supported range from challenges to the criminal defamation laws of
Zambia, and the non-bailable offences legislation in Zimbabwe to
the applications for bail and provision of defence to political
opponents in Swaziland, most of whom allege torture during
detention.
SALC's support
has been extended in line with its principle of working together
with domestic lawyers in the region interested in litigating
important cases involving human rights and the rule of law. With
the ongoing support of international law firm DLA Piper Rudnick,
SALC continues to work to ensure that domestic courts in the
region considering human rights issues have the full benefit of
international and foreign precedents in support of human rights
standards.
In addition to
case assistance, SALC has supported a number of training and
educative efforts - a human rights training workshop in Lesotho, a
conference on Swaziland's new constitution and a conference on the
administration of justice in the region, held in Zimbabwe.
In the past year
SALC has also written several opinion pieces for various
newspapers. These concerned cases where SALC has extended support,
such as to Kenneth Good - the academic deported from Botswana -
and to the treason accused in Swaziland.
SALC also
registered its concern for the unconstitutionality of imminent
interception legislation in Zimbabwe that will increase government
surveillance powers, to threats to human rights defenders there
and about the human rights implications of the South African
government's policies in respect of Zimbabwe.
"Yet while its
first year has been an eventful and fulfilling one," said Director
Nicole Fritz, "We at SALC are conscious that there is much to do
in order to increase its reach and impact. In particular, work
ahead requires developing a better understanding not only of
litigation that requires immediate response and support but also,
importantly, that which might be strategically initiated. In the
coming months SALC plans to develop specific areas of focus around
rights of expression and around accountability in addition to
pursuing its general human rights and rule of law mandate.
"On the basis of
its first year's showing, I'd like to think SALC looks set to meet
even the most exacting of expectations".
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South Africa
Arms and Ammunition
Majority of SA fears falling victim to crime
- 19 June
More than half of South Africans, or 54 percent of the population,
have been victims of gun violence or know someone who has been a
victim in the past five years. This is according to the results of a
survey to be made public on Monday. Conducted by the Control Arms
Campaign - comprised of Oxfam International, Amnesty International
and International Action Network - the survey included respondents
from SA, Brazil, Guatemala, Canada, Great Britain and India. -
IOL
website
see also
http://www.controlarms.org/
Correctional Services
Judges mull solutions to prison overcrowding
- 19 June
There is an urgent need to consider correctional supervision as an
alternative to imprisonment to help alleviate overcrowding in
prisons. This is the view of the country's judges who took part in a
national discussion organised by the National Institution for Crime
Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (Nicro) today. -
SABC News
website
Criminal Justice
System
Cannibalism is not a crime, says Nqakula
- 21 June
DA MP Ryno King, in a written question to parliament, asked how many
people had been arrested for cannibalism in the last 12 years. King
asked if any of those detained had been sent for mental evaluation.
Careful not to jump from the frying pan into the fire after his
recent call for crime-whingers to take a hike abroad, Nqakula said
cannibalism was not a crime under SA law. -
IOL
website
Rape victims get raw deal, poll finds
- 16 June
Most South Africans believe that the justice system is not fair to
those who lay a charge of rape, according to a recent poll by
Research Surveys. The survey was conducted among a sample of 2 000
South Africans from the seven major metropolitan areas. -
IOL
website
Environment
Business set to lobby government on carbon
credit tax - 19 June
Organised business is preparing to lobby the government to implement
clear guidelines on the taxation of carbon credit projects as part
of its response to the environmental fiscal reform policy paper
released by the national treasury two months ago. -
Business
Report website
Health
Huge reduction in deaths from unsafe abortions
- 15 June
A new report by the Health Department has focused on the access of
teenagers to termination of pregnancy services since abortion
legislation took effect. -
The Mercury website
Judiciary
Moseneke,
Presidency rebuked over pay - 20 June
Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke and the Presidency have been
rebuked by Parliament's justice committees for their part in the
debacle around remuneration packages for magistrates. The debacle,
which saw the Presidency prematurely proclaim a recommendation by
Moseneke for an effective 25% salary increase for magistrates, cost
national treasury an extra R157m as that was not budgeted for. -
allAfrica
website
Labour Issues
Strikes
Security strike ends after months of strife
- 22 June
The more than two-month-long, violence-ridden security guard strike
is finally over, and employers can expect some of their workers to
begin trickling back on Thursday. The South African Transport and
Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) gave an indication on Wednesday that
it would accept the employers' revised offer made earlier in the
week. This means a R232 increase for the lowest-paid security
officers, with Satawu saying this was an automatic increase of 19,89
percent for guards in that grade. -
IOL website
Guards and employers seal deal - 22
June
A protracted strike by security guards will hopefully end with the
signing of a new pay deal at noon on Thursday. South African
Transport and Allied Workers' Union (Satawu) secretary general
Randall Howard said on Wednesday that the deal would be accepted.
Since March 23 guards from Satawu and the Transport and Allied
Workers' Union of South Africa (Tawusa) have been holding out for an
11% pay increase. Tawusa indicated that its members were also
accepting the deal. -
Mail & Guardian website
Bill could see unions paying for damages
- 18 June
The Democratic Alliance has submitted a private member's bill to
Parliament, aimed at holding trade unions civilly liable for damage
or loss suffered as a direct result of union members' strike-related
activities. "The . . . bill proposes the insertion of clauses to
this effect under sections 67 and 68 of the Labour Relations Act (LRA)
of 1995," DA labour spokesperson Mark Lowe said. -
IOL
website
Municipal Management
and Procedure
Beggar by-law 'sacrifices' Cape Town's poor
- 21 June
The by-law relating to streets, public places and prevention of
nuisances outlaws a number of alleged offences, such as
intentionally touching or causing physical contact with another
person, or that person's property, without permission. It also
criminalises starting or keeping a fire, spitting on an exposed
surface or continuing to beg from a person after the person had
given a negative response. Many of the organisations, several
represented on the Western Cape Street Children's Forum (WCSCF),
spoke out against the by-law. -
Mail & Guardian website
Municipalities' donations to political party
were unlawful : report - 20 June
A report released by the Public Protector today revealed that
payments by two Northern Cape municipalities to the African
National Congress (ANC) in January, totalling R30 000, were
unlawful. Public Protector Lawrence Mushwana has recommended that
the municipal councils of Tsantsabane and Mier in the Northern
Cape explore the possibility of instituting disciplinary actions
against their chief financial officers (CFOs) following this
mismanagement of funds. -
BuaNews Online website
Safety and Security
Nqakula ordered to fork out millions
- 22 June
Courts have ordered Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula
to pay out more than R47-million in compensation and damages since
2004. Responding in writing to a question from the Democratic
Alliance in parliament, Nqakula said more than R32,7-million was
paid out in the 2004/2005 financial year and a further
R15,2-million in 2005/06. -
IOL website
Sport and Recreation
Ticket scandal 'embarrassing' -
18 June
Fifa admitted on Sunday that it was deeply embarrassed by the
admission that one of its top officials had sold tickets for a
World Cup match involving England for three times their face
value. Ismail Bhamjee, a Botswanan member of the powerful
25-member FIFA Executive Committee, said he had sold 12 Category
One tickets for last Thursday's England v Trinidad and Tobago
match for €300 each. They had a face value of €100. -
News24
website
Van Rooyen found guilty on six charges
- 16 June
Former South African rugby boss Brian van Rooyen has been barred
from serving in any capacity on the general council or committees
of the South African Rugby Union (Saru). Saru said on Thursday
that Judge Joos Hefer imposed this penalty after finding Van
Rooyen had contravened the union's code of conduct on six of 11
charges brought against him. -
IOL website
Taxation Laws
Foreign clothing donors baffled by red tape
- 23 June
A number of foreign donors claim that South African government
authorities have frustrated their efforts to donate "goods in
kind" to people affected by HIV and Aids - in certain cases
requiring 50 permits and up to R50 000 before they release donated
goods. - IOL
website
New guidelines for secondary tax
- 22 June
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released new
guidelines to help companies and shareholders understand the law
on secondary tax on companies. -
Business Day website
see
Amendments to Schedule no.4 to avoid double
taxation on excisable goods on the
SARS
website
Trade and Industry
Clothing and Textiles
China promises restrictions on textile
exports to SA - 24 June
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said his government would restrict
textile exports to South Africa, removing a key stumbling bloc in
relations with Africa’s economic powerhouse. -
Citizen
website
China's export cuts to benefit SA
- 23 June
China's promised cuts in textile exports to South Africa are
expected to benefit the local clothing and textile sector, which
has been unable to match production and profits garnered by the
cheap imports. -
BuaNews Online website
SA's tattered rag trade gears for revival
- 23 June
About 50 000 axed clothing and textile workers could be
re-absorbed into the industry, thanks to the agreement the
government is about to conclude with its Chinese counterpart. -
IOL
website
Clothing workers welcome SA-China pact
- 22 June
Clothing workers have hailed an understanding reached between
South Africa and China on textile imports as a chance to rebuild
the local industry. -
IOL website
Jury still out on costs and benefits of
trade deal with China, amid fears of severe job losses
- 22 June
A free trade agreement with China would have a drastically
negative effect on the clothing and footwear sectors in SA -- but
the overall economic effect would be positive, says one of the
first of a series of studies. -
allAfrica website
China pledges to 'not destroy' rag trade
- 22 June
China has promised not to destroy South Africa's textile industry,
saying it is to help develop the ailing sector that has lost an
estimated 25 000 jobs in the past two years. -
IOL
website
China premier steps up Africa charm
offensive - 22 June
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stepped up his African charm offensive
on Thursday, promising to use Beijing's political and economic
muscle to help unlock the potential of the resource-rich
continent. China, hungry for Africa's vast mineral and oil
resources to fuel its booming economy, has ramped up trade with
the continent and secured a series of agreements this week to
boost relations. -
Reuters website
China and South Africa sign textile trade
deal - 22 June
China and South Africa have signed a bilateral trade pact on
textiles to cushion the impact of Chinese textile imports. -
China Knowledge website
Mbeki and Jiabao fail to reach textile deal
- 21 June
China expressed willingness on Wednesday to restrict its textile
exports to South Africa, but no firm deal was on the table at the
conclusion of talks between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and
President Thabo Mbeki. -
IOL website
China's import restrictions to SA a pie in
the sky - 21 June
Ibrahim Patel, the general-secretary of the South African Clothing
and Textile Workers Union (Sactwu), says China's decision to
restrict clothing imports to South Africa does not solve long-term
problems in the textile manufacturing industry. -
SABC News
website
Chinese premier's visit tests textile
strains in South Africa - 18 June
South Africa's trade relations with juggernaut China will be put
to the test this week when Premier Wen Jiabao jets into Cape Town
for talks centred around China's mighty textile industry. -
Today
Online website
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Africa
Sierra Leone
UN agrees Taylor trial transfer -
16 June
The United Nations Security Council has unanimously agreed to
allow the transfer of the trial of Liberia's ex-leader Charles
Taylor to The Hague. He is currently in prison at a UN-backed
tribunal in Sierra Leone, where he is accused of backing rebels
notorious for mutilating civilians. -
BBC News
website
Somalia
Journalist shot dead in Somalia -
23 June
A Scandinavian journalist was shot and killed on Friday in the
Somali capital while attending a demonstration organised by
Islamic courts that seized Mogadishu this month. Witnesses said
the shooting appeared to have been linked the publication by a
Danish newspaper last year of cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed
that enraged many in the Muslim world, including Somalia. -
News24
website
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Asia
China
Corruption scandal hits Beijing Olympics
- 24 June
Beijing's preparations for the 2008 Olympics were plunged into
turmoil yesterday as a corruption scandal threatened to engulf
plans for the construction of venues for the Games. President Hu
Jintao was reported to have taken personal charge of the
corruption probe after a third senior official was called in for
questioning. -
Telegraph website
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Middle East
Iraq
Saddam Hussein Trial
Saddam 'should get death'
- 19 June
The prosecutor in the Saddam Hussein trial has asked for
the death penalty against the former Iraqi leader and two of his
top co-defendants. -
News24
website
Israel
Woman has road painted in bid to avoid
fine - 23 June
An Israeli woman who was caught by a police officer crossing a
straight white line on a road in northern Israel, found a
creative way to avoid a fine. Two hours after she was caught the
woman sent a friend to the spot, who began painting black gaps
in the line on the middle of the road. Unfortunately for the
woman and her friend, the officer was still on undercover duty
at the same location and arrested the suspect. -
IOL
website
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United Kingdom
Criminal Justice
System
Victims' families 'must have say'
- 24 June
The families of murder or manslaughter victims must have more of a
voice in court, the lord chancellor has said. -
BBC News
website
Judges break silence on sentences
- 18 June
Council of Circuit Judges secretary Keith Cutler said colleagues
were "pretty low" after mounting criticism over sentencing of
serious offenders. One newspaper called for judges to be sacked if
sentences were too lenient. -
BBC News website
Family Law
Wives offered 'divorce loans' for court costs
- 18 June
Private banks are queuing up to offer "divorce
loans" to help women with the costs of
splitting from their husbands. In return, they hope to be able to
manage the woman's assets once her divorce
settlement comes through. -
Times Online website
Family Law Protocol
http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/library.asp?i=2146
Health
Salmonella scare hits Cadbury's chocolate
- 24 June
Cadbury was forced to withdraw a million chocolate bars yesterday
over fears that they could be contaminated with salmonella. The
recall, one of the biggest in the company's history, was ordered
after dirty water leaked from a pipe and splashed on to a conveyor
belt at a factory in Herefordshire. -
Telegraph website
No smoking - even outside the office
- 21 June
People could soon be banned from smoking outside offices and pubs
in an extension of the drive to improve public health. -
Telegraph website
Human Rights
Cardinal urges abortion rethink -
21 June
The head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has reopened
the abortion debate by urging the government to change the law.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has called on ministers to lower the
24-week abortion limit. -
BBC News website
No.10 admits Megan's Law problems -
19 June
Downing Street says there are "genuine difficulties" in allowing the
public to have more information about the whereabouts of
paedophiles. The admission follows a warning to John Reid against
rushing to introduce a version of the Megan's Law system that deals
with child sex offenders. -
BBC News website
UK's good-manners law 'going a bit too far'
- 17 June
Prime Minister Tony Blair introduced court powers called
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) in 1999 as part of a range of
measures designed to ban problem behaviour such as excessive
noise, drunkenness, bad language and graffiti. They have since
become a cultural phenomenon. -
IOL website
Insurance
Insurance firm cancels £1m virgin birth policy
- 23 June
Insurance policy small print would call it an act of God when three
chaste sisters from Inverness took out a policy to cover them in the
event of a virgin birth. The policy, worth £1m, would pay for the
costs of bringing up the child if one of the sisters was to conceive
immaculately. The burden of proof that any baby they bore was Christ
had rested with the women, according to the insurance company. The
company which provided the policy decided to withdraw their cover
after receiving complaints that it was in poor taste. -
The
Herald website
Taxation Law
UK Law Society welcomes trust tax changes,
but concerns remain - 16 June
Commenting last week on the UK government's decision to execute a
U-turn with regard to the taxation of trusts, following
controversial proposals announced in the Finance Bill earlier this
year, Kevin Martin, Law Society president, stated that :
"The government has moved a long way
from its original proposals and that is very good news. Solicitors
will welcome the fact that many millions of their clients will not
now have to go through the expense and trouble of having their
will reviewed. We are particularly pleased that spouse exemption
will no longer be lost, something of concern to those in second
marriages and those who wish to comply with Sharia law. The
government is also taking a much more sensible line on will trusts
vesting assets to children between the ages of 18 and 25".
- Tax
News website
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United States
Google US Government Search
portal :
http://www.google.com/ig/usgov
About this service :
http://www.google.com/help/about_usgovernmentsearch.html
Courts
Court says SEC lacks authority on hedge funds
- 24 June
A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that the Securities and
Exchange Commission lacks the authority to regulate hedge funds,
dealing a possibly fatal blow to the commission's efforts to oversee
a rapidly growing industry that now has $1.1 trillion in assets. -
New York
Times website
Court limits protection against improper entry
- 15 June
Evidence found by police officers who enter a home to execute a
search warrant without first following the requirement to "knock and
announce" can be used at trial despite that constitutional
violation, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. The 5-to-4 decision
left uncertain the value of the "knock-and-announce" rule, which
dates to 13th-century England as protection against illegal entry by
the police into private homes. -
New York Times website
Cyberlaw
House panel OKs global rules for US Net firms
- 22 June
A congressional bill that would impose strict new obligations on
American tech companies doing business with "Internet-restricting
countries" like China cleared its first hurdle to becoming law on
Thursday. -
CNet News website
The Stored Communication Act : new
considerations for webmasters - 6 June
CIOs, webmasters and managers responsible for establishing and
administering policies for websites, intranets and extranets should
take note of a recent federal decision regarding the Stored
Communications Act. The details of your online use policies could
mean the difference between protection or exclusion from this
federal law. -
FindLaw website
Labour Issues
Pay gap shocker - 23 June
US corporate chief executives were paid on average 262 times the
salary of an average worker last year, an imbalance near an all-time
high, according to a study released this week. -
Fin24
website
Some H-1B workers underpaid, federal auditors
say - 23 June
More than 3 200 petitions for the H-1B
visa workers much used by technology companies have gained approval
even though the employers involved didn't commit to paying wages at
the prevailing rate, government auditors have reported. Those
certifications represented far less than 1 percent of the
approximately 960 000 H-1B applications
approved by the US Department of Labor between 2002 and 2005,
according to a 20-page report released Thursday by the Government
Accountability Office (GAO). -
CNet News website
Supreme Court gives employees broader
protection against retaliation in workplace - 23 June
The Supreme Court substantially enhanced legal protection against
retaliation for employees who complain about discrimination or
harassment on the job, in a ruling on Thursday. -
New York
Times website
Sex discrimination on trial - 21
June
Exposure to liability through sexual harassment litigation remains a
significant challenge for the business community, particularly
foreign companies and financial services firms. Firms that do not
adopt strategies designed to minimize the likelihood of successful
"retaliation" claims, after an initial complaint, are the most
vulnerable. The US system for pursuing legal claims of sex
discrimination is complex and includes private and public elements.
- Forbes
website
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Miscellaneous E-Things
Microsoft to publish its privacy rules
- 24 June
Microsoft plans in August to publicly release the privacy rules its
employees have to follow when developing products. The move, which
offers a look behind the scenes at Microsoft, is meant to give the
industry an example of what the software giant sees as best
practices in customer privacy, said Peter Cullen, the chief privacy
strategist at Microsoft. -
CNet News website
Police blotter : husband spies on wife's
computer - 16 June
What : Reports of home computer wiretapping surface in tempestuous
New Jersey divorce case
When : Superior Court of New Jersey ruled
June 8
Outcome : Wife succeeds in raising her
share of the settlement in a divorce case
What happened according to court documents : . .
.
CNet News
website
Jeffrey Archer wins JeffreyArcher.com
- 15 June
Politician, novelist, lord and perjurer Jeffrey Archer has won his
namesake dotcom - JeffreyArcher.com. The controversial Tory peer
took legendary cybersquatter Jeff Burgar to WIPO on 5 April, a
single panellist was appointed on 18 May, and the decision made on 1
June after Burgar failed to respond to the complaint. Burgar was
found to have registered and used the domain in bad faith -
redirecting it to his Celebrity1000.com website - as well as having
no connected to the great man himself. -
The
Register website
Net Neutrality
Senate panel proposes Net user 'bill of
rights' - 19 June
The latest Net neutrality provisions in a mammoth Senate
communications bill stopped short of giving Internet companies and
consumer advocacy groups all the assurances they've requested. -
CNet News
website
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