30
October 2009
11678/2006
[2009] ZAGPPHC 127
Tongoane and Others v National Minister for Agriculture and Land
Affairs and Others
Rural
people win land rights battle - 31 October
In a ruling with implications for millions of people in rural areas, a
Pretoria High Court judge has ruled sections of a key land rights' law
unconstitutional. The decision was handed down yesterday morning by Judge
Aubrey Ledwaba. He declared that 14 sections of the Communal
Land Rights Act
(CLRA) are wholly or partly unconstitutional, a decision that one of the
lawyers connected with the case said "takes the heart out of the
act". The ruling has implications for an estimated 21 million people
living under traditional leadership. The four communities argued that the
CLRA undermines the rights of people using communal land under customary
law, and creates a "traditional" tier of government not
recognised by the Constitution. Ledwaba rejected the last argument.
However, he said the law conferred powers on traditional councils that
could undermine communities' security of tenure. - The
Witness website
Law
on land reform struck down - 2 November
The North Gauteng High Court has declared large portions of a important
land-reform law unconstitutional, rendering it unworkable in its present
form. The ruling, handed down on Friday, is likely to have a profound
effect on government efforts to reform land tenure for an estimated
21-million people living on 16-million hectares of communal land, mostly
in the former homelands. It could also severely hamper plans to implement
President Jacob Zuma's Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP),
launched in August. - allAfrica
website
Els
pleads not guilty to sex crimes - 2 November
Sex crimes accused Jurie Els has pleaded not guilty to the charges against
him. Els has been accused of molesting fellow performer Robbie Klay when
he was a teenager. The trial was meant to kick off on Monday morning but
the defence and state argued about whether or not there had been full
disclosure. The court ruled the prosecution had to hand over all notes and
documentation to Els’ lawyer. - Eye
Witness News website
Singer's
sex charge trial in open court - 3 November
Afrikaans singer Jurie Els on Monday seemed delighted that his accuser,
fellow singer Robbie Klay, would on Monday take the stand to testify about
his alleged sexual abuse at the hands of Els. As the court turned
down Klay's application to have his evidence heard in camera, Els turned
back to the public gallery where Klay was sitting and smiled broadly. - IOL
website
Singer's
tale of sordid sex encounters - 4 November
Robbie Klay was abused sexually for the first time by fellow singer Jurie
Els when Klay was 11 years old. This happened at Els's Garsfontein home,
the Pretoria High Court heard yesterday. - IOL
website