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News
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Recent
Judgments Available on the Internet
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Cape
Provincial Division
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http://law.sun.ac.za/cgi-bin/list.php
Zim lawyer turns to high court - 10 January
A Zimbabwean lawyer due to start his pupillage with the Cape Bar
Council on Monday has been left in limbo after home affairs failed
to respond to an application which would allow him permanent
residency and the right to practise law in South Africa. Long-time
resident in South Africa, Simba Chitando on Wednesday launched an
urgent application in the Cape High Court against the minister of
home affairs and the Cape Bar Council. -
IOL website
Keyphrases :
Admission of Advocates Act
Immigration Act
High court lifts liability veil on close corporations - 10
January
The Cape high court has established new law for the circumstances
in which members and officers of a close corporation can be held
personally liable for the corporation's debts. Adam Harris, an
insolvency law specialist attorney with law firm Bowman Gilfillan,
said that generally, close corporations could be set up to ensure
that members were not liable for its debts. "But this judgment is
significant in that the court has confirmed that the corporate
veil may be pierced where there are special circumstances, such as
fraud. Members of a close corporation should not think of
themselves as invulnerable to attack from creditors". -
Business Report website
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Eastern
Cape Division
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http://wwwserver.law.wits.ac.za/echc/index.php
Police
shooting claim to return to High Court - 9 January
The case in which a Port Elizabeth man is claiming more than
R280 000 from the minister of safety and security – after the
police allegedly opened fire on him unlawfully – will be reopened
in the High Court later this month. Mbulelo April took the
minister to court after police shot at him and his vehicle because
they mistook him for a suspect they thought might be involved in a
planned cash-in-transit heist on April 24 2006. April was on
his way to work when he gave a lift to a woman. An unmarked police
car then stopped next to his car. He said he saw that the men had
guns. Not knowing they were police and fearing that they might be
hijackers wanting to steal the Golf, he sped off towards the
Despatch police station. April has since resigned and is
undergoing training to become a correctional services officer. -
The Herald Online website
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Natal
Provincial Division
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http://www.saflii.org.za/
Zuma Case
Thint not in court before August : lawyer - 8 January
Jacob Zuma's two co-accused - the two South African subsidiaries of
French arms manufacturer, Thales International - are not making any
plans to go to court before the August date set by the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Ajay Sooklal, the attorney representing
Thint Holding (Southern Africa) Pty Ltd, and Thint (Pty) Ltd said
today that there were no plans to go to court before August 4. -
SABC News website
'Doubts about Zuma fair trial undermines
judiciary' : Bizos - 6 January
We are concerned about the tone of the debate around the
contemplated trial of Mr Jacob Zuma. We do not wish to say anything
about whether he should or should not have been charged, or the
substance or lack of substance of the charges against him; those
matters are beyond our knowledge. Our comments are directed to one
issue only and that is the implications that have been made that our
judiciary lacks the independence and integrity to ensure that Mr
Zuma will receive a fair trial. -
Legalbrief website
How Schabir Shaik controlled Jacob Zuma for 10 years - 6 January
Convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik ran almost every aspect of Jacob
Zuma's financial affairs for almost a
decade.
A 16-page KPMG report that forms the cornerstone of the
state's case against Zuma for fraud and
racketeering, paints a staggering picture of the complete financial
hold Shaik had over the newly elected president of the ANC. -
The Times website
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Government
and Legislation
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South
Africa Government Information
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http://www.gov.za
;
http://www.polity.org.za
Statements and
Speeches
10 January
2008
Address by Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel at the 4th meeting
of the Forum on Tax Administration
Manuel dismisses Zuma fears - 10 January
South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said he did not have
any concerns about the direction fiscal policy might take after
Jacob Zuma took over the leadership of the ruling ANC, Sapa news
agency reported on Thursday. -
Fin24 website
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Useful
Links and Items of Interest
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Acronym Finder
http://www.acronymfinder.com/
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Legal Profession
Australia
Lawyers should be jurors : Law Society - 8 January
The New South Wales Law Society has welcomed moves to reform jury
selection laws, including widening the cross-section of jurors and
increasing the allowance for jurors in higher-paid jobs. The Law
Reform Commission has made 74 recommendations in a report on jury
selection. - ABC News website
France
French lawyers strike to protest possible changes in divorce law
- 19 December
French lawyers staged a one-day strike Wednesday in protest at a
possible reform that could cut them out of many divorce cases.
Courtrooms throughout the country were far less busy than usual,
with only cases like those involving defendants in jail awaiting
trial being handled. An official at the CNB, an organization
representing France's 46 000 lawyers, said nearly all the country's
bar associations respected the strike. -
International
Herald Tribune website
Kenya
Kenya Law Society calls on Kibaki to step down - 7 January
The Law Society of Kenya called on Monday for President Mwai
Kibaki to step down and for fresh polls in the east African
country where a government committee said post-election violence
has killed 486. - Reuters
website
United Kingdom
Law Soc launches junior lawyers group - 8 January
A brand new representative body for law students, trainees and
junior lawyers has been launched by the Law Society. The Junior
Lawyers Division will be launched officially on 10 January 2008
and is intended to be the "voice of
junior lawyers across the country and in every type of practice".
Free membership is open to all law students, trainees and
solicitors with up to five year's
experience. - The Lawyer
website
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South Africa
Business
SA business confidence at four-year low - 9 January
Business confidence in South Africa dropped to the lowest levels in
some four years in December, a South African Chamber of Commerce and
Industry (Sacci) survey, published on Wednesday, showed. Sacci
attributed the slump to negative movements in trade, residential
construction and import volumes, while inflation marched upward. The
Business Confidence Index (BCI) for December came in at 94,8, - a
8,7 point year-on-year drop - after having slipped to 95,8 in
November. - Creamer
Media's Engineering News website
Communications
New
MDDA Board appointed - 8 January
The new board for the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA)
has been announced. The MDDA promotes the facilitation of
development and diversity in the South African media sector and the
promotion of the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in our
Constitution. The appointments were made by President Thabo Mbeki.
The following five new Board members have been appointed with
effect from 01 January 2008 for a term of office of three years and
five years for the chairperson :
Gugu Msibi (chairperson) ; Nomonde
Gongxeka ; Siviwe Minyi
; Prof Guy Berger. -
BizCommunity website
Company Law
Criminals in financial services - 8 January
Certain convicted financial criminals have had no problem setting up
new businesses. Some have even become company directors or obtained
licences from the Financial Services Board (FSB). Take the recent
story of Rudco Finance Company, for example. Its CEO, Rudi Visagie
was convicted of theft in 1995. He was barred from being a company
director. Despite this, the Companies and Intellectual Property
Registration Office (Cipro) somehow registered Visagie as a director
of Rudco. Visagie also registered his company with the National
Credit Regulator (NCR), and was awaiting approval for his licence
application. - Moneyweb
website
Conservation
Protecting South Africa's biological and
cultural diversity - 10 January
South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot hosting possibly as many as 1
million species, many endemic to the region. The country is also
extremely culturally diverse. Our indigenous communities have over
the generations often adapted in harsh conditions. These communities
acquire a vast amount of biological knowledge with regard to their
habitats. This, in turn, makes South Africa a target region for
bioprospecting. Article by Jacqueline Lurie of Deneys Reitz
attorneys on the
Mondaq website
* * * Free registration required * * *
Crime
Crime
crisis legal bid 'looks doomed' - 7 January
Lobby group AfriForum's planned legal bid to force the government to
declare crime a national crisis is unlikely to succeed, legal
experts say. Trade union Solidarity's civil rights organisation has
contracted the Institute for Security Studies to compile a research
report on the manner in which the government has been executing its
constitutional duty to curb crime. AfriForum plans to use the report
as evidence in its bid to obtain a court order that would compel the
government to implement its crime fighting and prevention
strategies. - allAfrica website
Criminal Justice
System
Big changes
envisaged for Appeal Court, Scorpions - 11 January
The African National Congress (ANC) has called for the
Constitutional Court to be the highest court for all matters,
constitutional and nonconstitutional. The ruling party says in
resolutions adopted at its conference last month that the Supreme
Court of Appeal (SCA) should serve as an "intermediate" court of
appeal, with the proviso that this should not lead to undue delays
in the hearing of appeals. The ANC says full-bench appeals at the
level of the high court should be abolished and circuit courts
should be introduced at the level of the SCA. Changes to the
existing court system will require amendments to the law that are
likely to be resisted by the judiciary which prefers the
status
quo. -
allAfrica website
Environment
Plan to
manage Durban marine ecosystem - 10 January
An integrated harbour water quality management plan has been
proposed to manage the sensitive marine ecosystem in eThekwini in a
sustainable manner. The municipality's City Manager Dr Michael
Sutcliffe has proposed the notion in response to the recent "fish
kill" incident in the Durban harbour. The key institutional and
technical elements of the Estuary Water Quality Management Plan will
include an assessment of all inputs in to the bay, the development
of monitoring and measuring protocols and reporting thereof, the
development of emergency preparedness plans and regular
communication to the media and the multi-stakeholder forum. The plan
will also entail institutional, technical and social elements. -
allAfrica website
Health
Court action threatened over hospital fee increases - 10 January
The minister of health and the registrar of medical schemes are
concerned that increases in private hospital tariffs could
negatively affect South Africans, and the registrar has warned
hospitals of court action. Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
said the health department had received complaints about
"excessive"
increases in private hospital fees for this year. -
The Herald Online website
Hospitals defend rates hike - 8 January
Private hospitals have defended their 2008 rate increases of up to
33 percent in the face of criticism from Health Minister Manto
Tshabalala-Msimang. Kurt Worral-Clare, Hospital Association of South
Africa (HASA) chief executive, said the increases were a bid to
cover operating expenses, mostly salaries. "We have a huge shortage
of highly skilled nurses and the only way we could retain our staff
was through salary incentives. Some salaries went up as much as 13
percent," he said. - Daily
Dispatch website
Hospitals
reject Minister's medicine - 7 January
Private hospitals look set to press ahead with their fee increases
for this year, despite Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's
appeal for them to stick to last year's rates. She made her call
after several medical schemes complained to the Council for Medical
Schemes that they had been bullied into accepting unaffordable rate
increases for this year, jeopardising their viability. -
allAfrica website
Medical
schemes support dept's plea - 7
January
The Council for Medical Schemes on Friday welcomed Health Minister
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang's appeal to private hospital groups not to
implement their proposed increased health care prices. -
iafrica website
4 January 2008
Minister of Health addresses the private hospital group tariffs
increases
SA Government Information
website
Human Rights
'Racist' shower attack under the microscope - 9 January
The South African Human Rights Commission (HRC) has stepped into a
bitter race row between a Grassy Park family and a group of
Langebaan campers. The HRC has called for the two parties to lay
complaints amid accusations of racial abuse from both sides. -
IOL website
Land Affairs and
Property
Property
still good in 2008 - 7 January
Is property still a good investment? According to Gerhard Kotzé, CEO
of ERA South Africa property group, the outlook for the property
market in 2008 is one of mixed fortunes but generally still
positive. Kotzé says property values will continue to grow in 2008
with analysts predicting an average of 10 percent on a countrywide
basis. - mymoney website
Minerals and Energy
Community calls on govt to stop illegal mining - 4 January
The Maremane community near Postmasburg in the Northern Cape is
calling for government's intervention to stop illegal mining on
their land. The land was given to the community by the Land Claims
Commission in 2007 as alternative land after their unsuccessful
claim on the Lohatla Battle School - their alleged ancestral land.
But the fight is seemingly far from over. The community claims
that a company called Misty Falls has been mining iron ore and
manganese since November last year without permission. -
SABC News website
Municipal
Demarcation Board
Municipality appeals for jurisdiction over Hazyview - 10
January
The Bushbuckridge municipality in Mpumalanga has made an appeal to
incorporate the tourist town of Hazyview into its municipal area
in order to boost its local economy. At the moment, Hazyview is
administered by the Mbombela local municipality, which sits in the
provincial capital of Nelspruit. "Bushbuckridge currently depends
on government grants because we don't have a strong economic base.
All our money is moving out of our households to Hazyview and
Nelspruit," said Bushbuckridge municipal spokesperson, Zondi
Mkhabela. The Bushbuckridge municipal council made the submission
for the inclusion of Hazyview to the Municipal Demarcation Board
of South Africa in late 2006. "Give us Hazyview and we will be
able to play a pivotal role in the sustainable development of our
people by keeping the money within the municipality," said Mr
Mkhabela. -
BuaNews Online
website
Municipal Management
and Procedure
Msunduzi
No delivery, no bonus, warns capital's mayor - 9 January
Msunduzi Mayor Zanele Hlatshwayo has warned that senior council
managers will not get performance bonuses in 2008 if their work is
not up to standard. In the strongest signal yet to be given by the
council's political head of her intention to improve services in
2008, Hlatshwayo pointed out the need for clear plans from each of
the senior managers. She admitted recently that although strides
had been made by the council to achieve service provision, the
council was clueless about the amount of work that had actually
been done. This was due to the absence of data capturing systems
and monitoring mechanisms. - IOL
website
Nelson Mandela Bay
Denton 'will co-operate'
on tough new by-laws - 8 January
Irish property magnate Ken Denton says he will
"fully co-operate" with tough new
municipal by-laws that require landlords to take more
responsibility for the state of their buildings. The Nelson
Mandela Bay municipality has proposed new draft by-laws clamping
down on owners who allow their property to fall into a
dilapidated, neglected or unsightly state. The draft by-laws, to
be opened for public participation at the end of this month, also
call on landlords to look after their undeveloped and vacant
properties by fencing them so that they are not vandalised or used
as dumping sites. - The
Herald Online website
Crackdown plan against donkey cart death traps - 7 January
The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality has drafted by-laws that
suggest a ban on the notorious donkey carts from public roads
after sunset and seek to limit public areas where fireworks can be
ignited. Five by-laws - on fireworks, health issues, prevention of
public nuisance, electricity supply and water services - will be
taken to the public for comment later this month. -
The Herald Online
website
Keyphrases :
Animal care
Animals grazing on public roads
Child care
Neglected and dilapidated buildings
Street trading
National Prosecuting
Authority
Willem Heath : advocate and former judge interviewed by Alec Hogg
- 10 January
First of all, you have
the problem of the unhealthy competition
between the police and the Scorpions,
which is very bad for our country and for investigating and
prosecuting crime. Therefore the arrest of Nel would always be
tainted as a result of that. I do not know what the merits are
against him. There are those allegations, and there have been
allegations before against Nel - that he's corrupt and that he's
been involved in fraud. But the fact of the matter is that he has
conducted an intensive investigation into the activities of the
Commissioner of Police. Now immediately you have this activity by
the police to go and arrest him, which
makes it extremely suspect. So even if there are merits in the
case against Nel, the perception is that this is just vengeance or
revenge by the police. -
Moneyweb website
Selebi in
court scramble to pull Scorpions' sting - 11 January
The tit-for-tat sparring between the Scorpions and police chief
Jackie Selebi took a dramatic twist yesterday, with Selebi
approaching the Pretoria High Court to prevent the National
Prosecuting Authority (NPA) from serving a warrant of arrest on
him. Last night, former NPA chief Bulelani Ngcuka was also drawn
into the widening controversy, with Selebi alleging in his court
papers that Ngcuka was running the Scorpions behind the scenes. -
allAfrica website
Selebi's court application unusual : legal experts - 10
January
Legal experts have again emphasised that national police
commissioner Jackie Selebi's court challenge to the National
Prosecuting Authority is highly unusual. Selebi will ask the
Pretoria High Court this morning to stop the NPA from a
prosecution that has not yet begun. Unisa Constitutional law
expert Professor Shadrack Gutto says Selebi has not been charged
as yet and from that point of view -he is attempting to prevent
the NPA from carrying out the work of investigation. -
SABC News website
Selebi move will be opposed by NPA - 10 January
South Africa's prosecuting authority will oppose a court
application from National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi aimed
at preventing his prosecution, a spokesperson said on Thursday. -
IOL website
Send lawyers, guns and money - 10 January
Gerrie Nel, a senior member of the Scorpions, was arrested in
neo-Nazi style on Tuesday night, by 20 armed goons representing
the South African Police Services (SAPS). The allegations against
Nel also go back nearly four years, to testimony he delivered
against allegedly corrupt former Scorpions, including Cornwell
Tshavhungwa. In much the same vein, the SAPS has been harassing
other individuals lined up to testify against Selebi. The Selebi
saga has already fermented big casualties. On Tuesday September 25
2007, NPA national director Vusi Pikoli was suspended, after it
became known that he had secured arrest and other warrants against
Selebi. In another ugly sub-plot, Pikoli and Selebi have special
past links that include a former justice minister, Penuell Maduna,
and a private sector liquidator, Enver Motala. -
Moneyweb website
Nel arrest warrant 'hazy', says lawyer - 9 January
Gerrie Nel, the head of the Directorate of Special Operations in
Gauteng - also known as the Scorpions - who was released on bail
on Wednesday following his dramatic arrest by police the night
before, hopes to be back in his post on Thursday. -
Mail & Guardian website
Nel arrest : 'police did not play open cards' - 9 January
The legal team of arrested Gauteng Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel began
an urgent application in the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday for
his release. "The police did not play open cards when they asked
for his arrest," said Nel's lawyer Ian Small Smith shortly before
the application. - Mail & Guardian
website
Scorpions boss Nel arrested - 9 January
Scorpions boss Gerrie Nel was arrested at his Pretoria home
yesterday on charges of corruption and defeating the ends of
justice. According to the warrant of
arrest, the charges against Nel were corruption and defeating the
ends of justice between 2004 and 2005. -
Daily News website
Govt's submission on Pikoli 'too bare' - 9 January
The government revised its submission to the Ginwala inquiry into
the suspension of National Prosecuting Authority boss Vusi Pikoli
after its first draft did not contain enough information,
Business Day reported on Wednesday. The report said Pikoli's
advocate Wim Trengove had complained that the government's
submission was "too bare". He had asked for more detail. -
Mail & Guardian website
Ginwala inquiry announces timeline for submissions - 7 January
The Ginwala inquiry into suspended prosecutions head Vusi Pikoli
on Monday announced a timeline for key submissions to it, the
South African Broadcasting Corporation reported. Lawson Naidoo,
spokesperson for Frene Ginwala, said they were expecting Minister
of Justice and Constitutional Development Brigitte Mabandla's
submission on January 15 and Pikoli's on January 31. -
Mail & Guardian website
Sport and Recreation
New rugby laws to be tested at all levels in SA - 11 January
Changes in the laws of rugby are to be given a trial at all levels
of the game in South Africa from next month, the International
Rugby Board (IRB) said on Thursday. The IRB has already conducted
a series of trials on the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) at
lower levels in South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, England and
Scotland. - Mail & Guardian
website
Black coach Peter De Villiers wins Springboks job as rugby bosses
admit his colour settled decision - 10 January
The racial faultlines running through South African rugby were
forced open again yesterday when a black man was chosen to coach
the national team for the first time. Peter De Villiers was
unexpectedly put in charge of the Springboks, the world champions,
and the rugby executive responsible for the appointment admitted
that the colour of his skin was a deciding factor. His plea to
fans to look beyond the colour of his skin was undermined by
Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru),
who said that race had been a determining factor.
"I want to be honest with South Africa
and say that the appointment was not entirely made for rugby
reasons," Mr Hoskins said.
"We as an organisation have made the
appointment and taken into account the issue of transformation
very seriously when we made it". The
appointment of De Villiers split the Saru board down the middle
and was eventually endorsed by ten votes to nine. -
Times Online website
Taxation Matters
SARS : how to
save millions - 9 January
Business could save millions in collective litigation fees against
SARS if the correct mechanisms were followed upfront.
"Lawyers often receive instruction to
take over a dispute where it has proceeded to a point where a
hearing with the Tax Board or Court is inevitable",
says Erika Petersen of Shepstone & Wylie Attorneys tax department.
She argues that this does not have to be the case as there are
many mechanisms for resolving a dispute with SARS that do not
involve litigation. - Cape
Business News website
Trade and Industry
Dumping
threat to local industry looms - 7 January
The International Trade Administration Commission (Itac) is
considering scrapping anti-dumping duties on a wide range of
goods. This could result in an influx of cheap imports in
industries enjoying legitimate protection against dumped goods
from other countries. Itac's intention was published in the
Government Gazette last month. This follows a Supreme Court of
Appeal ruling in September which found that Itac had erred in
interpreting the allowed five-year period for an anti-dumping
duty. - allAfrica website
Transport
Road hogs beware . .
. demerits are coming - 10 January
Thousands of South African motorists may lose their driver's
licences by the end of 2008 if they fail to adhere to the rules of
the road, the KwaZulu-Natal transport department said on Thursday.
Bheki Cele, provincial minister of transport, community safety and
liaison, said the demerit system will be introduced this year in
South Africa, which will help solve traffic-violation problems.
"There are 12 points on a demerit card .
. . and every time you break a rule on
the road you lose points. If you lose 12 points by the end of each
year, you will lose your driver's licence," said Cele. -
Mail & Guardian website
Miscellaneous
Sacked deputy CEO wants R6.3m - 7 January
Mpumalanga's Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has been served with
legal papers demanding R6.3m for allegedly forcing its deputy
chief executive officer to resign and flee the province. Segware
Rapolai resigned in December amidst claims that fellow officials
and MTPA board directors were trying to kill him, or alternatively
bewitch him, to prevent him from exposing their involvement in
various corrupt schemes. MTPA CEO, Solly Mosidi, declined to
comment on the case, saying he had been consumed with fighting his
own suspension and was therefore not briefed on Rapolai's claims.
- News24 website
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Africa
US
in Africa : partnership or pillage? - 8 January
Often, Africa's problems are traced to European rule. But
increasingly, it is the United States that creates conditions of
deprivation and unrest across the continent. Since President
Clinton's 1998 Africa tour - the most extensive of any US president
- Africa has become a focus of US foreign policy like never before.
His Administration has even proclaimed "a new US-Africa partnership"
that aims to integrate Africa into the global economy and contain
the spread of AIDS and armed conflicts. These categories do reflect
some of the worst hardships confronting African women and families.
But "partnerships" are not unilateral declarations made by the
strong about the weak. In fact, if we explore these problems from
the perspective of African women and their communities, a very
different set of causes - and solutions -
emerges than those described by the President. -
Biddho website
Namibia
Namibian human rights group files more charges against founding
president - 8 January
Namibia's National Society for Human
Rights (NSHR) has asked the International Criminal Court to bring
more charges of human rights abuses against founding President Sam
Nujoma. The group says the abuses occurred during the country’
struggle for independence. - VoA
website
Sierra Leone
Charles Taylor trial hears of murder, rape and mutilation - 8
January
A reverend who survived a massacre and was held captive by rebels in
Sierra Leone testified on Tuesday in the trial of former Liberian
president Charles Taylor about seeing killings, rapes and
mutilations. Taylor is accused of arming, training and controlling
the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels in Sierra Leone in
exchange for still-unknown amounts of diamonds. Taylor's trial
before the United Nations-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone was
moved from Freetown to The Hague because there were fears his
presence there could destabilise the region. Taylor's defence team
stressed on Tuesday that the witnesses' testimony was not necessary
because they do not say these crimes did not happen, they just argue
Taylor was not responsible for them. -
Mail & Guardian website
Zimbabwe
Friendly jumbo gets death for party rampage - 8 January
Tusker, the friendly but boisterous Zimbabwean elephant, has been
summarily "executed" after damaging several cars during a wild New
Year's Eve party in the resort town of Charara, near Lake Kariba.
Wildlife authorities shot the bull elephant despite appeals from
conservationists and a petition signed by 4 000 nature lovers from
across the world appealing for clemency. During a loud party in
which drugs and alcohol were reportedly abused, youngsters pulled
hair out of Tusker's tail, slapped him on the rump, flashed their
car lights, hooted and threw firecrackers and bottles at him. "Our
argument is that a party of this magnitude, which is attended
every year by thousands of youngsters, should not be held in a
national park", said Johnny Rodriques,
of the Zimbabwean Conservation Task Force. -
IOL website
Surveyor-General's department understaffed - 7 January
The Department of the Surveyor-General has been heavily
understaffed with only three registered land surveyors, out of an
establishment of 23. Out of the establishment of 23, the
department had 10 surveyors, of which three were registered
professionals and seven were land surveyors under training. The
lack of registered surveyors is impacting negatively on the
Government's thrust to give 99-year leases to new farmers, as
their farms need to be surveyed. -
allAfrica website
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Asia
India
India
outlaws 'cruel bull sport' - 11 January
The Indian Supreme Court has banned a version of bull fighting
popular in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Jallikattu is an annual
festival celebrated in two villages near the temple town of Madurai.
The sport is said to be thousands of years old. In jallikattu
contestants do not try to kill the bull. But animal rights
campaigners still say it is cruel. The sport has also become
increasingly dangerous. Every year dozens of people are injured and
many are killed too. - BBC News
website
Japan
Japan payout over tainted blood - 8 January
Japanese lawmakers have passed a bill that will enable hundreds of
people infected with hepatitis C by tainted blood products to
claim compensation. It is estimated that at least 10
000 people contracted the disease when they were given
blood-clotting agents between the 1970s and early 1990s. -
BBC News website
Malaysia
Malaysia court rejects Hindu bid - 27 December
A Malaysian Hindu woman has failed in an attempt to stop her
husband - a new convert to Islam - divorcing her in an Islamic
court. Subashini Rajasingam also failed to persuade the federal
court her husband should be banned from converting their
four-year-old son to Islam. The court rejected the appeal on a
technicality but added that she would be able to try again in a
few months. Religious rights are a sensitive issue in Malaysia
which is 60% Muslim. - BBC News
website
Pakistan
For now, Musharraf has muzzled legal critics in Pakistan - 5
January
Not so long ago, Muneer A Malik was often photographed sitting on
the roof of a Mitsubishi Pajero, fists raised, showered with rose
petals and thronged by supporters as he accompanied the embattled
Supreme Court chief justice on protest cavalcades that became the
starkest symbol of opposition to President Pervez Musharraf's
rule. Today, Mr Malik, a lawyer who helped lead the movement of
his colleagues, goes nowhere but the hospital and home. He is
frail, his face is drawn, he walks through his house slowly and
cautiously. He says he is happy to be alive. -
New York Times website
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Australasia
Australia
Supreme Court urged to change writing of
court documents - 9 January
The ACT Law Society says the Supreme Court should adopt a protocol
for the writing of court judgments, to prevent identity fraud. The
New South Wales Supreme Court is changing the way judgments are
written, by omitting personal and sensitive information. President
of the ACT Law Society Rod Barnett says the same should be done in
the Territory. -
ABC website
Voting 'Australish' terms into an online
dictionary - 10 January
Contemplating a New Year tattoo in that fashionable area above the
buttocks? To help you along, Australians have given them a
not-so-fashionable name : "arse antlers".
Want a suntan as well? You could have "tanorexia". These are just
some of the words the country's biggest online dictionary is
asking people to vote for as word of the year for its latest
annual update. A "salad dodger" is an obese person. -
CNet News website
See
http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@D93414958/-/p/dict/WOTY07/index.html?
New Zealand
Edmund Hillary, first on Everest, dies at 88
- 11 January
Sir Edmund Hillary, the lanky New Zealand mountaineer and explorer
who with Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide, won worldwide acclaim
in 1953 by becoming the first to scale the 29 035-foot summit of
Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak,
died Friday in Auckland, New Zealand. He was 88. -
New York
Times
website
Court of appeal lops year off Zimbabwean drug dealer's sentence
- 9 January
A Zimbabwean drug-dealer involved in a massive importation of
ecstasy into New Zealand has had a year cut from his 12-year
sentence by the Court of Appeal. Robert Charles de Bruin, 53, was
found guilty by a jury in May last year, along with former Mr Asia
figure Darryl Leigh Sorby, on five counts of importing MDMA worth
more than $3 million hidden in furniture from South Africa. While
de Bruin was successful in getting a reduced sentence, he failed
to persuade the appeal judges to overturn his conviction. He also
failed in his appeal against a $1 million pecuniary penalty order
imposed by the sentencing judge, Justice Mark Cooper, at the High
Court in Auckland in August. -
New Zealand Herald
website
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Europe
Combating International Crime in an enlarging European Union : what
is the role of Europol?
Lecture in the International Seminar for Experts "Combating
Terrorism and International Organised Crime in the European Union :
the Hague Programme and the role of Europol and Eurojust",
organised by the Cicero Foundation in the series "Great
Debates", Paris, 14 and 15 December 2006.
- Cicero Foundation
website
France
Sarkozy
proposes new Internet tax - 9 January
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has proposed new taxes on
internet access and mobile phone use. The new taxes would help
fund France's two public television channels, which would be free
of advertising. - BBC News
website
Greece
Women protest in monk sanctuary - 9 January
A group of female protesters locked in a land dispute with the
Greek Orthodox Church defied a 1
000-year-old ban and entered the all-male Mount Athos monastic
sanctuary in northern Greece. Parliament member Litsa Amanatidou
Paschalidou was among the women who entered the sanctuary. She
called it a "purely symbolic act," which was meant to send a
message to the church to "pursue policies which serve the public
and not its financial interest". The protesters say the monks are
making illegal claims on their property. Monks at 20 monasteries
on the Athos peninsula have imposed a strict ban on women for
nearly 1 000 years. The ban is upheld by
Greece's constitution, and violations are punishable by up to a
year in prison. Resident groups in the northern Halkidiki holiday
resort area are at odds with several Athos monasteries over the
ownership of land outside the sanctuary area. Paschalidou, the
lawmaker, said the Athos land claims were based on titles dating
back to the Middle Ages and the period of Ottoman Turkish rule.
Greece has not completed a national land register, and land
disputes are common. - Houston
Chronicle website
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Middle East
Iran
Spate of executions and amputations in Iran - 11 January
Using strict enforcement of Islamic law, the judicial authorities in
a restive region of southern Iran amputated the right hands and left
feet of five convicted robbers this week, part of what the
government said was an effort to deter other troublemakers. An
Iranian rights group led by Shirin Ebadi, the lawyer and Nobel Peace
Prize winner, protested the double amputations, which it called an
expansion of cruel punishments in Iran. The group also protested a
spate of public executions reported over the past two weeks. In the
first 10 days of January there have been 23 publicly disclosed
executions. Among those reported executed on Jan 1 was a 27-year-old
woman and mother of two who killed her husband when she was 23. The
woman, Raheleh Zamani, was hanged at Tehran's
Evin prison despite a promise by the authorities to postpone her
execution by a month. A group of feminists were trying to get the
consent of the victim's family to save her
life. She had married at the age of 15 and had been abused by her
husband. - New York Times
website
See also
http://www.pdki.org/articles1-1133-11.htm
Iraq
British at risk from contaminated US blood - 10 January
British soldiers have been put at risk of contracting deadly
diseases from contaminated American blood, it was claimed last
night. The 18 servicemen received emergency blood transfusions at
American field hospitals after being seriously wounded in the
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.But after it emerged that some
batches were not properly screened for lethal infections such as
HIV and hepatitis, the soldiers must wait for the results of
medical tests to find out whether they have been affected. -
Telegraph website
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United Kingdom
Environment
Go-ahead given for new nuclear power plants - 10 January
The government gave the go-ahead to a new generation of nuclear
power stations on Thursday, setting no limits on nuclear expansion
and adding momentum for a worldwide renaissance of atomic energy. -
Reuters website
Health
Medical
abbreviations 'pose risk' - 6 January
Doctors are being warned that using abbreviations in medical notes
is putting patients' lives at risk. The UK's Medical Defence
Union said difficulties often arose because abbreviations can have
more than one meaning or might be misread. Some patients have had
the wrong limb removed or operated on and others have been given
deadly drug doses, it said. A recent US study of 30 000 medication
errors, some fatal, showed 5% were linked to abbreviations in notes.
- BBC News website
Labour
Tories to strip benefits if jobless refuse work - 8 January
Unemployed people who turn down offers of work will have their
benefits stripped under a "three strikes and you're out" rule to
be unveiled by David Cameron. Benefit claimants will lose a
month's worth of state handouts for the first job they turn down,
three months' of payments for the second "reasonable offer" and a
third employment refusal will be punished with a bar on
unemployment benefits for up to three years. The scheme is part of
the Tory leader's plan to control the £100 billion welfare bill -
Telegraph website
Land Affairs and
Property
The pain of a broken property chain - 11 January
The collapse of a property chain can have serious consequences for
those involved. The Government has asked the Law Society to look at
the house purchase process, and the society is due to report back
within the next few weeks. However, legislative changes would still
be a long way off. -
Times Online website
Scotland
Holyrood bill aims to end forced marriage - 5 January
A bid to end the practice of forced marriages in Scotland will be
launched within weeks, The Scotsman has learned. Liberal
Democrat MSP Hugh O'Donnell wants to bring Scotland into line with
England and Wales, where measures have already been adopted to
crack down on forced marriages. The Central Scotland MSP intends
to start the process which, he hopes, will lead to a successful
private member's bill, effectively outlawing forced marriages in
Scotland and the practice of taking Scots out of the country to be
forced into marriages elsewhere in the world. -
Scotsman website
Transport
Killer drivers may avoid jail - 9 January
Motorists who kill while driving carelessly would not
automatically be sent to jail under guidelines released on
Wednesday by the government's sentencing advisory body. Drivers
would receive a community sentence rather than a jail term if an
accident was caused by a single, brief mistake and there were no
aggravating factors, such as drink-driving. The Sentencing
Guidelines Council (SGC) says the rules would help judges to
deliver the most appropriate punishment in "extremely sensitive"
cases. - Reuters website
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United States
Animal Rights
Tatiana, now
deceased
Source :
Fox News website |
In ambulance, survivors of SF tiger attack made pact of
silence - 5 January
Soon after their 17-year-old friend was mauled to death by a
tiger at the San Francisco Zoo, the two brothers who survived
the attack made a quick pact not to cooperate with the police
as they rode in an ambulance to the hospital, sources told
The Chronicle. "Don't tell them what we did," paramedics
heard 23-year-old Kulbir Dhaliwal
tell his brother, Paul, 19. Sources also say that the
younger brother was |
intoxicated at
the time of the incident, having used marijuana and consumed
enough liquor to have a blood-alcohol level above the .08
limit for adult drivers. The older brother also had been
drinking and using marijuana around the time a 350-pound
Siberian tiger escaped and killed Carlos Sousa Jr, the sources
said. - San Francisco
Chronicle website
SF Zoo visitor saw 2 victims of tiger attack teasing
lions
- 3 January
Two victims of a lethal Christmas Day tiger attack were
harassing the big cats at the San Francisco Zoo shortly
before a 350-pound feline escaped its enclosure and
mauled
them, a woman told The Chronicle on
Wednesday. The
revelation comes as the zoo reopens
today, nine days after a
visitor was killed and two of
his friends were injured by
the Siberian tiger, later shot
dead by police. -
San Francisco Chronicle
website
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Courts
Companies propel apartheid case to US Supreme Court - 11
January
Last October, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals issued an
extraordinary decision allowing a lawsuit to proceed in US
courts against more than 50 US and foreign corporations for
their role in aiding and abetting South Africa's oppressive
apartheid policies. The suit had been filed on behalf of
millions of South Africans who claimed they'd been harmed by
apartheid before it crumbled in the late 1980s. The ruling set
off alarms among business organizations fearful that the
decision would lead to American companies being hauled into
American courts by foreign parties to defend against allegations
of misdeed far from US soil. On Thursday the companies involved
filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the ruling.
- Law.com website
Keyphrase :
United States. 'Apartheid Case' |
Attorney is loser in malpractice lawsuit - 28 January
He has been called the lawyer "sued on both ends" - losing lawsuits
filed against him by his client and by the Louisville surgeon his
client unsuccessfully sued. As the Kentucky Trial Court Review
put it,
Tennessee attorney Laurence Dry was found on one hand to have
botched a medical malpractice case "so good he couldn't lose it" and
on the other hand to have filed a case "so bad he never should have
taken it". Dry, himself a surgeon-turned-attorney, paid the judgment
last week. -
Courier-Journal website
Inmate sues jail, blames it for his escapes - 4 January
An inmate who twice escaped from the Pueblo County jail filed a
federal lawsuit Thursday, alleging that guards abused him and didn't
do enough to stop him from breaking out. Scott Anthony Gomez, Jr
alleges that guards have sprayed him with pepper spray, shot him
with a stun gun, and beaten and kicked him without provocation. He
also claims that employees of the Pueblo County sheriff's department
got other inmates to assault him. -
The Denver Channel
website
Slip on pigeon slime lands ex-doorman $6M - 24 December
former doorman who went flying down the steps at a Bronx subway
station after slipping on some slimy bird waste has been awarded
more than $6 million. Shelton Stewart, 56, has been in agony since
1998, when he injured his back and neck at the Gun Hill Road/White
Plains Road station on the No. 2 line. He was nearly helpless the
first five years after the fall, having to relearn such routine acts
as standing, dressing and brushing his teeth. His broken neck wasn't
even noticed initially, and he fought off a potentially deadly
infection along the way. - New York
Post website
Crime
How crime in
the United States is measured - 3 January
Crime data collected through the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), the
National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), and the National
Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) are used by Congress to inform
policy decisions and allocate federal criminal justice funding to
states. As such, it is important to understand how each program
collects and reports crime data, and the limitations associated with
the data. This report reviews (1) the history of the UCR, the NIBRS,
and the NCVS; (2) the methods each program uses to collect crime
data; and (3) the limitations of the data collected by each program.
The report then compares the similarities and differences of UCR and
NCVS data. It concludes by reviewing issues related to the NIBRS and
the NCVS. - Federation of American
Scientists website
Criminal Justice
System
South African 'justice' cuts both ways - 9 January
In the early morning hours of Jan 8, Lower Township Police
Department received information from the Cape Regional Medical
Center about a victim who entered the emergency room with an
almost-amputated finger. When detectives investigated, they
learned that the victim was questioned about stealing by
Chris Hosford, 18. When the victim denied the accusation, Hosford,
with another unknown male, reportedly grabbed the victim and told
him that in South Africa they cut off people’s hands for stealing.
With that, the unknown subject held the victim while Hosford cut
the victim’s finger with a pair of clippers or shears. Hosford was
charged with aggravated assault. Municipal Court Judge David
DeWeese set bail at $25 000. Hosford was remanded to county jail
in lieu of bail. -
Cape May County Herald website
Keyphrase :
United States. 'Apartheid Case' |
Justices weigh injection issue for death row - 8 January
With conservative justices questioning their motives and liberal
justices questioning their evidence, opponents of the American
manner of capital punishment made little headway Monday in their
effort to persuade the Supreme Court that the Constitution
requires states to change the way they carry out executions by
lethal injection. - New York
Times website
USA : breaking a lethal habit : a look back at the death penalty
in 2007 - 6 January
New Jersey becomes the first US state since 1965 to legislate to
abolish the death penalty. And while no-one is expecting an
immediate domino effect through the other death penalty states,
the move is nonetheless part of a wider questioning underway in
the USA about the reliability, necessity, fairness and humanity of
capital punishment. - Amnesty
International USA website
Cyberlaw
Man gets record sentence for computer sabotage - 8 January
A computer systems administrator was sentenced to 30 months in
prison on Tuesday for trying to sabotage his company's servers out
of fear he was about to lose his job, prosecutors said. The US
Attorney's Office in Newark, NJ, said Yung-Hsun Lin received the
longest ever federal prison term for a criminal attempt to damage
a computer system. He was also ordered to pay $81 200 in
restitution to his former employer, pharmacy benefit manager Medco
Health Solutions. Lin, 51, admitted he modified computer codes and
added code to create a "logic bomb" designed to wipe out servers
on Medco's network in October 2003, around the time Medco was
being spun off by Merck, authorities said. Lin feared he might be
affected by resulting layoffs. -
CNet News website
Education
One-third of young women have bachelor's
degrees - 10 January
US Census Bureau News website
Elections
Professor John Stremlau : Vice-President
of Peace Programs, The Carter Center (US) interviewed by Alec Hogg
- 9 January
How significant for South Africa is the apparent two-horse race in
the US presidential election? -
Moneyweb website
Environment
Council votes to require stores to recycle plastic bags - 9
January
Putting New York City within the forefront of a growing movement
to curb plastic bag use, the City Council overwhelmingly passed a
sweeping measure today that would require stores to collect,
transport and recycle the plastic bags they issue to customers.
The legislation requires that each plastic bag carry a printed
message, at least three inches in height and in capital letters
:
"Please return this bag to a
participating store for recycling".
Supermarkets will be required to place
"easily
accessible" bins for customers to drop
off their bags and will also be required to sell cloth or durable,
reusable plastic bags. -
New York Times
website
Land Affairs and
Property
The case for loan modification - 6 December
The combination of weakening in mortgage credit quality, upward
pricing of hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages, falling home prices,
and fewer refinancing options highlights the need to find a
workable solution to current problems in the US subprime mortgage
market. This article describes a systematic and streamlined
approach to loan modification that will help avert foreclosure for
certain subprime borrowers who cannot afford to continue making
mortgage payments when interest rates reset. The article also
addresses common misconceptions about this approach. -
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation website
The case for banning subprime mortgages - 28 December
While the subprime mortgage boom was in full swing, its benefits
to American society were widely touted. Subprime mortgages were
said to have increased homeownership. The subprime effect was
supposed to have been especially strong for low-income and
minority families previously unable to buy homes. The
democratization of credit was also attributed to subprime
mortgages. The empirical data do not support these welfare claims.
The US homeownership rate increased somewhat between 1994 and
2007. Subprime mortgages, however, were mostly made to existing
homeowners to refinance debt; very few were made to first-time
home buyers. - Social
Science Research Network website
Legislation
Santa's delivered the Open Government Act - 9 January
There has been a perception that the current administration in
practice has diluted the timing and quality of provision of
information under the statute. Those days appear to be coming to
an end, as the House of Representatives recently passed a bill
referred to as the Open
Government Act of 2007 that passed the Senate just days
earlier. - CNet News website
Miscellaneous
Lawyer installs shark tank at office - 1 January
Bozeman lawyer Christopher Gillette covered his eyes Monday as a
crane hoisted a 1 000-gallon aquarium through the second-story
window of his new downtown office. Gillette plans to fill the tank
with saltwater creatures, including venomous lionfish and a
blacktip reef shark, which can grow as large as 5 feet long. When
filled with water, the $23 000 tank will weigh about eight tons.
The tank is expected to be complete in February and the feature
will be available at
www.cjgillettelaw.com
and
www.ccaqua.com.
Gillette said plans for the shark tank started as a joke while he
was designing his new office a few months ago.
"I said, 'What would it take to
put a shark in a lawyer's office?' and it just kind of took off
from there," he said. Gillette, who
practices family law, said the tank serves more than an aesthetic
purpose. There's something calming about fish that he hopes will
help ease his clients who are often dealing with high stress
situations such as divorce or child custody issues. -
Bozeman Daily
Chronicle website
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International
The rule of law? - 7 January
Lawyers have long believed that the rule of law is society's anchor
to stability in a troubled and chaotic world. It is a truism,
moreover - especially in this digital age of globalization - that
when the rule of law is undermined anywhere in the world, it is
imperiled everywhere in the world. The year just past, 2007, was
annus horribilis for the rule of law and for basic liberties.
This is a brief rundown of a few of the dark places in the world
where the past year saw the rule of law seriously compromised. -
Forbes website
Keyphrases :
Britain
Chad
Kenya
Pakistan
Sudan
United States
Environment
The Bali roadmap a ‘real opportunity' to fight climate change -
8 January
Concerns over what would happen post-2012 when the Kyoto Protocol
expires have been somewhat laid to rest after the United Nations
climate change conference in Bali late last year launched a two-year
negotiation phase, with clear agenda, to establish a new framework
replacing the Kyoto protocol
in 2013. The road ends in Copenhagen in 2009, when a final deal to
replace Kyoto will be drawn up. -
Creamer Media's
Engineering News website
Labour Law
Termination of Employment Legislation Digest
The Termination of Employment Legislation Digest is a
database on termination of employment regulation. The present
project, based on the
Termination of Employment Digest
published by the ILO in 2000, aims at establishing a set of
national and comparative information on this topic. To illustrate
the diversity of national approaches, the
Digest reviews
the legislation of more than 77 countries, as well as provides
comparative tables for easy reference. -
ILO website
Trade and Industry
Doha deal in sight but big differences remain - 19 December
World Trade Organisation (WTO) members agreed on Tuesday that a
deal to open up global trade was possible next year but that big
differences remained between rich and poor nations and even among
developing countries. Numerous speakers at the WTO's
governing general council said that with hard work the
long-running Doha round could be wrapped up in 2008, trade
officials said. -
Creamer Media's Engineering News website
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Miscellaneous
Marking South Pole 'drift' for new year - 7 January
I was there at the South Pole, on New Year's Day. About 30 to 40 of
us had gathered in temperatures that were touching -40 °C with wind
chill to witness a rather unique celebration: the moving of the
geographical South Pole marker. Of course, the geographical South
Pole hadn't moved. It was the ice sheet above it that had moved. The
ice-sheet, which is about 3 kilometres thick at the South Pole,
moves by about 9 metres each year. -
New Scientist website
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Miscellaneous E-Things
Tech-savvy governments to embrace Web 2.0 - 10 January
New research has indicated that tech-savvy government departments
will begin to adopt Web 2.0 applications this year. "'Gov 2.0' will
replace 'e-gov,' as governments seek to gain additional value from
citizen interaction and business transactions," Teresa Bozzelli,
chief operating officer and managing director of Government
Insights, which produced the report, said in a statement. -
CNet News website
Avoiding information and conversation overload from social media
- 8 January
The challenge when it comes to social media is figuring out how to
leverage it without letting it destroy your productivity. That's why
it's essential to stop worrying so much about missing something and
start focusing more on using what works for you.
- Search Engine Guide
website
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Vacancies |
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Conveyancer |
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A well-established
Hillcrest legal practice requires a qualified Conveyancer (BEE) with a
minimum of two years post-admission experience in all aspects of
conveyancing.
Excellent opportunity
for partnership prospects.
The package is highly negotiable depending on experience.
Call Joy Reeves at York Personnel
Telephone : 031-562 8712
Email :
joy@yorkpersonnel.com
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Justice Centre
Executive |
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Ladysmith Justice Centre
Key outputs
▪ Maintain the
infrastructure of the Justice Centre
▪ Select Candidate Attorneys, Professional Assistants and
Administrative staff for the Justice Centre
▪ Manage the functioning and administration of the Justice Centre
▪ Manage the allocation of cases to private practitioners (Judicare)
▪ Train and develop staff
▪ Ensure sound management of the Justice Centre's finances and other
assets
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪ Legal
qualification with an LLB or BProc degree PLUS a minimum of 5 years'
post-admission experiences in the legal sector
▪ Admitted as an Attorney or Advocate of the High Court of SA
▪ Demonstrated ability to train Candidate Attorneys
▪ 5 years' general management experience
▪ Excellent leadership and people development skills with a track
record in training Candidate Attorneys and newly-appointed legal
practitioners
▪ Experience in budget preparation and management thereof
▪ Advanced computer skills (Excel, Word and Outlook) compulsory
The following additional
skills, knowledge, training and competences are required
▪ Strong
communication skills and the ability to manage a diverse workforce
▪ Ability to plan, organise, co-ordinate and present
▪ Good facilitation skills
▪ Ability to interpret and apply policies
▪ Innovative, creative and analytical thinking skills
▪ Excellent problem solving and motivational skills
▪ Good leadership and interpersonal skills
Envisioned for this position is a Senior Attorney with a good standing
in the legal fraternity, proven track record in criminal and civil
litigation, a motivated, self-driven and mature individual who is a
team player
Salary package
R356 279-R526 597 per annum (depending on years of post-admission
experience)
Reference 35205/1
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
number, must be submitted to: The Regional HR Department, attention :
Ms Debra Langa, KZN/MP Regional Office, fax : 031-702 1960 or email
HR-KZN@legal-aid.co.za
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Principal
Attorney |
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Durban Justice Centre
The
incumbent will be appointed on a permanent basis
Key outputs
▪ Oversee and manage
quality control in respect of legal representation provided by the
Justice Centre and Judicare Practitioners
▪ Assist with the management, functioning and
administration of the Justice Centre in accordance with LAB policies,
procedures and systems
▪
Act as Principal Attorney for Candidate Attorneys
▪
Supervise and guide Professional Assistants
Requirements
▪
Admitted Attorneys who comply with the definition of a Principal
Attorney in terms of the
Attorneys Act (as amended)
▪
At least 6 years' post-admission experience
▪
Demonstrate an ability to manage a varied practice
▪
Excellent leadership and people development skills
with a track record in training Candidate Attorneys and new Legal
Practitioners
▪
Experience in budget preparation and management
thereof
▪
Advanced computer skills (Excel, PowerPoint and
Outlook) compulsory
Envisaged for this position is a Senior Attorney with a proven track
record in criminal and civil litigation. He/she must be motivated,
self-driven and a mature individual who is a team player
Salary package
R300 036-R526 597 per annum
Reference 35205/2
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
number, must be submitted to: The Regional HR Department, attention :
Ms Debra Langa, KZN/MP Regional Office, fax : 031-702 1960 or email
HR-KZN@legal-aid.co.za
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Regional
Communications Manager |
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KZN/Mpumalanga Regional Office,
Pinetown
The incumbent will be
appointed on a permanent basis
Key outputs
▪
Co-ordinate all communications activities and requirements in the
region, including media relations, events management, branding and
promotions, photography and internal communications
▪
Develop relations with local media, stakeholders
and LAB offices
▪
Write press releases, speeches and other corporate
documents
▪
Develop and implement all Public Relations
campaigns in the region
▪
Implement all advertising and public education
campaigns in the region
▪
Develop and implement internal communications
strategy at a regional level
▪
Develop, produce, edit and distribute a regional
newsletter
▪
Distribute all promotional and marketing material
▪
Facilitate event management initiatives
▪
Quality control corporate identity
▪
Report on all regional communications activities
▪
Media liaison and training of Justice Centre
spokesperson
▪
Undertake regular audit assessments regarding
communication requirements in the region
▪
Monitor budgetary expenditure
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
A recognised 3-year tertiary qualification with majors in
Communications is a minimum requirement. Postgraduate qualification in
Communications is a recommendation
▪
5 years' experience in the above areas with 3 years
at management level
▪
Good understanding of public relations principles,
branding and event management
▪
Good writing skills compulsory
▪
Project management skills essential
▪
Ability to write comprehensive feature articles,
analysis and opinion pieces
▪
Ability to multi-task and manage priorities in a
fast-paced environment
▪
Ability to work independently under pressure and
deliver according to tight deadlines
▪
Exceptional analytical and decision-making skills
Envisaged for this position is a mature individual with a proven track
record in the communications field, a motivated and self-driven person
who is a team player
Salary package
R300 036-R526 597 per annum (MMS package)
Reference 35205/3
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
number, must be submitted to: The Regional HR Department, attention :
Ms Debra Langa, KZN/MP Regional Office, fax : 031-702 1960 or email
HR-KZN@legal-aid.co.za
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Receptionist |
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KZN/Mpumalanga Regional Office
The
incumbent will be appointed on a permanent basis
Key outputs
▪
Office management/management of the reception area
▪
Customer interface
▪
Processing documents
▪
RO telephone management
▪
Supply relevant management information on request
▪
Assist Regional Office Manager with compilation of
reports when necessary
▪
Assist with stock management
▪
Process incoming and outgoing correspondence
▪
Faxing and photocopying
▪
Assist with organising meetings and workshops
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
2 years' administrative work experience with minimum 1 year as a
Receptionist/Secretary
▪
Grade 12 or equivalent with typing as a subject (MS
Office) (tertiary qualification will be an added recommendation)
▪
Ability to manage the reception area
▪
Good communication skills
▪
Telephone management skills
▪
Good typing skills
▪
Syspro experience will be a strong recommendation
Salary package
R68 952-R98 923 per annum plus benefits
Reference 35205/4
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
number, must be submitted to: The Regional HR Department, attention :
Ms Debra Langa, KZN/MP Regional Office, fax : 031-702 1960 or email
HR-KZN@legal-aid.co.za
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Administration
Manager |
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Middelburg Justice Centre
The
incumbent will be appointed on a permanent basis
Key outputs
▪
Develop expert knowledge in all administrative practices and
procedures of the National Office and the needs of the Justice Centre
▪ Ensure the optimal productivity and
workflow by effectively managing the utilisation of all available
resources
▪ Perform administrative duties
▪ Maintain HR policies, procedures and
systems
▪ Manage the effective, efficient and
timeous sorting of incoming/outgoing mail, pleadings communications,
etc
▪ Prepare and submit all statistical
information to the Regional Office
▪ Administer and co-ordinate the Justice
Centre's budget and perform the monitoring and financial
administration thereof
▪ Identify training and development needs of
personnel under his/her supervision in order to determine if
organisational goals are being achieved and take corrective action
where necessary
▪ Determine the most cost-effective work
procedures and methods to achieve organisational goals
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
Grade 12 plus a 3-year tertiary qualification (preferably BComm
Accounting/Finance)
▪ 5 years' experience in the administrative
field, of which 2 years must have been at middle management level
▪ Supervisory/management experience
▪ Experience in budget preparation and
management thereof
▪ Ability to develop and manage
administrative systems and processes
▪ People management skills
▪ Attention to detail
▪ Good administrative and computer skills
▪ Strong administrative background with
proven co-ordination and facilitation skills, administrative
experience and sound human resource and financial skills
▪ Advanced Excel compulsory
▪ Valid Code 08 driver's licence
Salary package
R157 679-R190 482 per annum plus benfits
Reference 35205/5
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Professional
Assistants |
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Middelburg Justice Centre (Groblersdal
Satellite Office)
Ermelo Justice Centre
Durban Justice Centre (2 Posts and 1 Commercial Crimes Court)
Ladysmith (2 Posts and 1 Civil Post)
Nelspruit (2 Posts)
Verulam Justice Centre
Applicants must be
admitted attorneys/advocates
Key outputs
▪
Provide legal representation to the indigent at District and Regional
Court level
▪ Train candidate attorneys
▪ Performance office administration
▪ Maintain accurate statistics
▪ Represent women, children and landless
people in civil, criminal and children matters
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
BProc/LLB degree
▪ Admitted Attorneys/Advocates
▪ 2 years' post-admission experience
▪ Legal representation at District and
Regional Court level in civil, criminal and children matters
▪ Valid driver's licence compulsory
▪ Interviewing skills
▪ Excellent verbal and written communication
▪ Ability to relate at all levels
▪ Analytical thinking
▪ Organising and planning skills
▪ Self-development orientation
▪ People development
▪ Strong research skills
▪ Computer skills in Word, Excel and
PowerPoint
Envisaged for these positions are Attorneys/Advocates with a proven
track record in criminal and civil litigation, a motivated,
self-driven and mature individual who is a team player
Salary package
R88 724-R338 600 per annum (depending on years of experience)
Middelburg Justice
Centre (Groblersdal Satellite Office) Reference 35205/6
Ermelo Justice Centre Reference 35205/7
Durban Justice Centre Reference 35205/8
Ladysmith Reference 35205/9
Nelspruit Reference 35205/10
Verulam Justice Centre Reference 35205/11
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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High Court
Professional Assistants |
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Nelspruit Justice Centre
Durban Justice Centre
Pietermaritzburg Justice Centre
Applicants must be
admitted attorneys/advocates. The incumbent will be appointed on a
permanent basis
Key outputs
▪
Provide legal representation to the indigent at High Court level
▪ Perform office administration
▪ Maintain accurate statistics
▪ Represent women, children and landless
people in civil matters
▪ Move Applications including Interdicts
▪ Draw Heads of Argument and argue appeals
▪ Argue opposed Applications
▪ Draft opinions
▪ Draw notices/documents relating to
applications for leave to appeal and appeals
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
Admitted Attorneys/Advocates with the right of appearance in the High
Court
▪ 5 years' experience in the high court
▪ Legal representation and litigation skills
▪ Human rights orientation
▪ A commitment to professionalism and
service excellence
▪ A valid Code 08 driver's licence
compulsory
▪ Strong negotiation skills
▪ Strong drafting skills relating to
applications, affidavits and civil pleadings
▪ Litigation skills relating to Civil,
Criminal and Labour Law matters
▪ Strong research capabilities
Envisaged for this position is a Senior Attorney/Advocate with a good
standing in the legal fraternity, proven track record in criminal and
civil litigation in the High Court, a motivated, self-driven and
mature individual who is a team player
Salary package
R196 811 (basic) - R357 960 (package) per annum
Nelspruit Justice Centre Reference 35205/12
Durban
Justice Centre Reference 35205/13
Pietermaritzburg Justice Centre
Reference 35205/14
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Supervisory
Professional Assistants |
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Durban Justice Centre
Witbank Justice Centre
Applicants must be
admitted attorneys/advocates. The incumbent will be appointed on a
permanent basis
Key outputs
▪
Train and supervise Candidate Attorneys
▪ Co-ordinate legal training at the Justice
Centre
▪ Provide individual mentoring and coaching
to Professional Assistants and Candidate Attorneys
▪ Assess the quality of the files and work
performed by Candidate Attorneys and Professional Assistants on a
daily basis
▪ Assist the JCE with quality assessments
▪ Monitor case flow management of
Professional Assistants, Candidate Attorneys and Judicare at the
courts
▪ Assist the JCE with quality of Judicare
▪ Monitor and assess the quality of work
performed by co-operation partners
▪ Ensure that the law library at the Justice
Centre is up-to-date and adequate
▪ Legal representation in civil and criminal
matters
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
At least 3 years' post-admission experience
▪ Supervisory and/or mentoring experience
▪ Legal representation and litigation skills
▪ Human rights orientation
▪ A commitment to professionalism and
service excellence
▪ A valid Code 08 driver's licence is
compulsory
▪ Strong negotiation skills
▪ Strong research skills
▪ Strong administration skills
▪ Strong training and development skills
Envisaged for this position is an individual with proven track record
in criminal and civil litigation - a motivated, self-driven and mature
individual who is a team player
Salary package
R88 724-R386 389 per annum (depending on years of experience)
Durban Justice Centre Reference 35205/15
Witbank Justice Centre Reference 35205/16
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Administration Officer |
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Pinetown Justice Centre
Key outputs
▪
Generate reports and compile statistics as required
▪ Maintain records and the filing system of
the Justice Centre
▪ Capture data
▪ Provide logistical support to Justice
Centre management and professional staff
▪ Assist in effective management and usage
of Justice Centre Assets, including vehicles
▪ Ensure timeous procurement of goods per
LAB policies
▪ Assist in maintaining resources and
replenishments
▪ Process Judicare accounts on accounting
system
▪ Assist in management of monthly
expenditure
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
Grade 12
▪ 3 years' administration experience
▪ High level of proficiency in using MS
Office programmes used by the Board
▪ Knowledge of Ad Infinitum an advantage
▪ Accuracy and attention to detail
▪ Code 08 driver's licence strongly
recommended
Salary package
R68 952-R98 923 per annum
Reference 35205/17
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Paralegal |
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Port Shepstone Justice Centre (Kokstad
Satellite Office)
Durban Justice Centre
Nelspruit Justice Centre
The incumbent will be
appointed on a permanent basis
Key outputs
▪
Support the Justice Centre legal staff by providing paralegal services
to persons qualifying for legal aid
▪ Identify and solve matters that are not of
a litigious nature
▪ Identify cases of a litigious nature and
hand over
▪ Handle legal administration
▪ Keep the client database up-to-date
▪ Conduct interviews with people applying
for legal assistance
▪ Assist the client with the completion of
forms
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
Matric and 5 year's working experience in a law firm OR 1-year
Paralegal diploma and 2 year's working experience in a law firm
▪ Computer literacy
▪ Attention to detail
▪ Ability to relate at all levels
▪ Excellent communication skills (verbal and
written)
▪ A valid unendorsed Code 08 driver's
licence
Salary package
R49 665-R80 854 per annum
Port Shepstone Justice Centre (Kokstad Satellite Office) Reference
35205/18
Durban Justice Centre
Reference 35205/19
Nelspruit Justice Centre
Reference 35205/20
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Office
Assistant |
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Witbank Justice Centre
Key outputs
▪
Clean the office premises
▪ Act as an interpreter when required
▪ Make and serve tea/coffee
▪ Conduct messenger services (including
driver duties)
▪ Provide office assistance
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
Grade 12
▪ 1 year's working experience as a
messenger/office assistant
▪ Ability to keep office premises clean
▪ Ability to provide general office
assistance, including driving duties
▪ Code 08 driver's licence compulsory
Salary package
R49 665-R55 365 per annum plus benefits
Reference 35205/21
A detailed Curriculum
Vitae reflecting practical application of the position outputs and the
required competencies as advertised, quoting the relevant reference
numbers, Justice Centre and area of specialisation, must be submitted
to the respective Justice Centres as indicated in the grey block below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Candidate
Attorneys |
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Port Shepstone Justice Centre
Ladysmith Justice Centre
Empangeni Justice Centre
Vryheid Justice Centre
Durban Justice Centre
Umlazi Justice Centre
Pinetown Justice Centre
Verulam Justice Centre
Pietermaritzburg Justice Centre
Newcastle Justice Centre
Nelspruit Justice Centre
Ermelo Justice Centre
Witbank Justice Centre
Middelburg Justice Centre
The incumbents will be
appointed on a two- (2) year contract
Key outputs
▪
Assist clients within the mandate of the Legal Aid Board
▪ Represent clients in the Criminal Court
▪ Assist women, children and landless people
in civil matters
Competencies (skills,
knowledge and attributes) required
▪
BProc/LLB degree
▪ Entitlement to conclude a contract of
community service/articles
▪ A demonstrated interest in community
matters
▪ Proficiency in English and at least one
other official language
▪ Computer literacy and a driver's licence
will be advantageous
Salary package
BProc : R40 930 per annum
BProc and PLT or LLB : R44 204 per annum
LLB and PLT : R49 116 per annum
Port Shepstone Justice Centre Reference 35205/22
Ladysmith Justice Centre Reference 35205/23
Empangeni Justice Centre Reference 35204/24
Vryheid Justice Centre Reference 35205/25
Durban Justice Centre Reference 3205/26
Umlazi Justice Centre Reference 35205/27
Pinetown Justice Centre Reference 35205/28
Verulam Justice Centre Reference 35205/29
Pietermaritzburg Justice Centre Reference 35205/30
Newcastle Justice Centre Reference 35205/31
Nelspruit Justice Centre Reference 35205/32
Ermelo Justice Centre Reference 35205/33
Witbank Justice Centre Reference 35205/34
Middelburg Justice Centre Reference 35205/35
For the above posts, a
detailed Curriculum Vitae highlighting required skills as advertised
must be submitted, quoting the relevant reference number, to the
addresses below
Closing date : 11 January 2008
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
Preference will be given in terms of our affirmative action approach,
to suitable candidates who meet the minimum requirements. Should you
not hear from us within one month of the closing date, please accept
that your application was not successful |
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Mr Henk
Engelbrecht, Durban Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 4397, Durban 4000
Fax : 031-304 3564
Email :
Recruit-Durban@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mrs Zama Ntetha,
Umlazi Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 36265, Ntokozweni 4089
Fax : 031-906 1477
Email :
Recruit-Umlazi@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Robin Gengan,
Pinetown Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 1006, Pinetown 3600
Fax : 031-701 5880
Email :
Recruit-Pinetown@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Herman Gales,
Port Shepstone Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 50148, Port Shepstone 4240
Fax : 039-682 5908
Email :
Recruit-PortShep@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Ridwaan Asvat,
Verulam Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 183, Verulam 4340
Fax 032-533 2651
Email :
Recruit-Verulam@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Bhamani
Maharaj, Pietermaritzburg Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box X9118, Pietermaritzburg 3200
Fax : 033-342 2576
Email :
Recruit-PmBurg@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr David Masuge,
Ladysmith Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 1181, Ladysmith 3370
Fax : 036-637 5036
Email :
Recruit-Ladysmith@legal-aid.co.za |
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Ms Vicky
Sewlochan, Newcastle Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 1850, Newcastle 2940
Fax : 034-312 3426
Email :
Recruit-Newcastle@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Rose Luvuno,
Empangeni Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 38, Empangeni 3880
Fax : 035-792 4954
Email :
Recruit-Empangeni@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Steve
Govender, Vryheid Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 852, Vryheid 3100
Fax : 034-989 8311
Email :
Recruit-Vryheid@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Phillip
Strydom, Nelspruit Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 5103, Nelspruit 1200
Fax : 013-755 1540
Email :
Recruit-Nelspruit@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Lance
Sibanyoni, Ermelo Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 656, Ermelo 2350
Fax 017-819 7270
Email :
Recruit-Ermelo@legal-aid.co.za |
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Mr Titus Jiyane,
c/o Witbank Justice Centre, Admin Manager
P O Box 4373, Witbank 1035
Fax : 013-656 5291
Email :
Recruit-Witbank@legal-aid.co.za |
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▪ |
Mr Jeffrey
Matlou, c/o Middelburg Justice Centre,
Admin Manager
P O Box 827, Middelburg 1050
Fax : 013-282 1235
Email :
Recruit-Middelburg@legal-aid.co.za
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Professional
Assistant with Criminal Court experience |
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Temporary Appointment
We
require the services of a Professional Assistant with Criminal Court
experience to start urgently at the Legal Aid Board Ladysmith Justice
Centre based in Ladysmith.
The incumbent must have a driver's licence.
The position is for a fixed term of three months only.
We
offer competitive salaries.
Please forward your CV to
KrishenS@legal-aid.co.za
or fax to 036-3637 5036
Enquiries to be directed to K M Shah (036-638 2500) |
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