Van Deventer Dowlath & Marx Incorporated Get Started
Menu
Year archive

Posts from 2025

Articles published during this year.

Filters 2025 143 articles
Category
All posts Conveyancing & Property Law Property Buyers Property Sellers Property Practitioners Community Schemes Litigation Family Law Commercial Law Press Releases News and Legal Articles
Archive

Conveyancing & Property Law 3 April 2025 Cor van Deventer

What is a Notarial Bond in South Africa?

Notarial bonds offer businesses and lenders a powerful legal tool for securing debt—especially in transactions where physical possession of the asset isn't practical or desirable. In South Africa, these instruments serve as an alternative to pledges, giving creditors a form of security over a debtor's movable property

Read article ->
Commercial Law 31 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

Differences Between a Notary Public and a Commissioner of Oaths

In South Africa, legal documents often require official certification or verification. Two professionals who perform these duties are a Notary Public and a Commissioner of Oaths—but despite some similarities in their roles, they are not interchangeable. Many people incorrectly assume that either can do the other's job,

Read article ->
Property Sellers 28 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

Asbestos Roof – Is this a Defect in Your Home?

Asbestos was once considered a miracle material: lightweight, durable, and fire-resistant. For decades, it was widely used across South African construction—especially in roofing. But what was once a selling point has become a source of serious concern. The health risks associated with asbestos are now well known, and

Read article ->
Property Practitioners 27 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

Independent Contractors and PAYE in South Africa

The tax treatment of independent contractors is a grey area for many South African businesses—especially when the contractor is closely tied to the company, such as a director or shareholder. It may seem easier (or even more tax-efficient) to have that individual invoice the business each month instead of drawing a for

Read article ->
Property Sellers 19 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

What Happens If You Default on Your Mortgage Bond?

Buying a home is a long-term financial commitment, but life doesn't always go as planned. Job loss, medical emergencies, rising living costs - there are countless reasons homeowners may struggle to keep up with their bond repayments. Many assume they have time to fix the situation, but banks don't wait long before taking

Read article ->
Commercial Law 18 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

Legal Requirements for Starting a Business in South Africa

From selecting the right business structure to meeting registration and compliance obligations, every decision you make has legal and financial implications.

Read article ->
Property Buyers 18 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

The Conveyancing Process in South Africa

Getting bond approval is a major milestone in buying a home, but it doesn't mean the property is legally yours - not yet. Until ownership is officially transferred, the seller still holds the legal title, and any number of issues can delay or even derail the process. This is where conveyancing comes in.

Read article ->
Property Buyers 17 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

Mortgage Bonds in South Africa – A Homebuyer’s Guide

For most South Africans, owning a home isn't just a dream - it's a lifelong investment. But with property prices often out of reach for the average buyer, a mortgage bond is the bridge that makes homeownership possible.

Read article ->
Commercial Law 14 March 2025 Ann-Suhet Marx

Liquidation vs Business Rescue - Which Path Should You Take?

When a company is experiencing financial difficulties, two approaches are typically looked at, namely, liquidation and business rescue. Both strive to handle a company's financial issues, but they differ greatly in terms of aims, processes and their respective outcomes. Understanding the distinctions between these two

Read article ->
Family Law 13 March 2025 Ann-Suhet Marx

Registration and Termination of Customary Marriages

A legally recognized marriage is more than a cultural tradition—it protects both spouses' financial and legal rights. Yet, many people in customary marriages assume that once the ceremonies are complete, their marriage is fully recognized under South African law. This isn't always the case.

Read article ->
Family Law 11 March 2025 Ann-Suhet Marx

Customary Marriages in South Africa - What to Know

For generations, customary marriages have been central to family traditions and community structures in South Africa. But while these unions hold deep cultural and historical significance, they also carry real legal consequences—ones that many couples don't fully understand until it's too late.

Read article ->
Conveyancing & Property Law 10 March 2025 Cor van Deventer

Waterfall City - A Property Development Rooted in History and Innovation

Waterfall City, one of South Africa's most ambitious and expansive property developments, is home to thousands of residents and a diverse range of real estate projects. However, few people are aware of the fascinating history underpinning this modern urban landscape. Beyond its contemporary infrastructure lies an extra

Read article ->

Website Privacy Policy

vdm.law is committed to protecting your privacy and developing technology that gives you the most powerful and safe online experience. This Statement of Privacy applies to the vdm.law site and governs data collection and usage. By using the vdm.law site, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.

Collection of your Personal Information

vdm.law collects personally identifiable information, such as your email address, name, home or work address or telephone number. vdm.law also collects anonymous demographic information, which is not unique to you, such as your ZIP code, age, gender, preferences, interests and favorites.

There is also information about your computer hardware and software that is automatically collected by vdm.law. This information can include: your IP address, browser type, domain names, access times and referring website addresses. This information is used by vdm.law for the operation of the service, to maintain quality of the service, and to provide general statistics regarding use of the vdm.law site.

Please keep in mind that if you directly disclose personally identifiable information or personally sensitive data through vdm.law public message boards, this information may be collected and used by others. Note: vdm.law does not read any of your private online communications.

vdm.law encourages you to review the privacy statements of Web sites you choose to link to from vdm.law so that you can understand how those Web sites collect, use and share your information. vdm.law is not responsible for the privacy statements or other content on Web sites outside of the vdm.law and vdm.law family of Web sites.

Use of your Personal Information

vdm.law collects and uses your personal information to operate the vdm.law Web site and deliver the services you have requested. vdm.law also uses your personally identifiable information to inform you of other products or services available from vdm.law and its affiliates. vdm.law may also contact you via surveys to conduct research about your opinion of current services or of potential new services that may be offered.

vdm.law does not sell, rent or lease its customer lists to third parties. vdm.law may, from time to time, contact you on behalf of external business partners about a particular offering that may be of interest to you. In those cases, your unique personally identifiable information (e-mail, name, address, telephone number) is not transferred to the third party. In addition, vdm.law may share data with trusted partners to help us perform statistical analysis, send you email or postal mail, provide customer support, or arrange for deliveries. All such third parties are prohibited from using your personal information except to provide these services to vdm.law, and they are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.

vdm.law does not use or disclose sensitive personal information, such as race, religion, or political affiliations, without your explicit consent.

vdm.law keeps track of the Web sites and pages our customers visit within vdm.law, in order to determine what vdm.law services are the most popular. This data is used to deliver customized content and advertising within vdm.law to customers whose behavior indicates that they are interested in a particular subject area.

vdm.law Web sites will disclose your personal information, without notice, only if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) conform to the edicts of the law or comply with legal process served on vdm.law or the site; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of vdm.law; and, (c) act under exigent circumstances to protect the personal safety of users of vdm.law, or the public.

Use of Cookies

The vdm.law Web site use "cookies" to help you personalize your online experience. A cookie is a text file that is placed on your hard disk by a Web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer. Cookies are uniquely assigned to you, and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you.

One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time. The purpose of a cookie is to tell the Web server that you have returned to a specific page. For example, if you personalize vdm.law pages, or register with vdm.law site or services, a cookie helps vdm.law to recall your specific information on subsequent visits. This simplifies the process of recording your personal information, such as billing addresses, shipping addresses, and so on. When you return to the same vdm.law Web site, the information you previously provided can be retrieved, so you can easily use the vdm.law features that you customized.

You have the ability to accept or decline cookies. Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. If you choose to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the vdm.law services or Web sites you visit.

Security of your Personal Information

vdm.law secures your personal information from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. vdm.law secures the personally identifiable information you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use or disclosure. When personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted to other Web sites, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol.

Changes to this Statement

vdm.law will occasionally update this Statement of Privacy to reflect company and customer feedback. vdm.law encourages you to periodically review this Statement to be informed of how vdm.law is protecting your information.

Contact Information

vdm.law welcomes your comments regarding this Statement of Privacy. If you believe that vdm.law has not adhered to this Statement, please contact vdm.law at info@vdm.law. We will use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly determine and remedy the problem.

Website Terms of Use

Agreement Between User And vdm.law

The vdm.law Web Site is comprised of various Web pages operated by vdm.law.

The vdm.law Web Site is offered to you conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein. Your use of the vdm.law Web Site constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.

Modification Of These Terms Of Use

vdm.law reserves the right to change the terms, conditions, and notices under which the vdm.law Web Site is offered, including but not limited to the charges associated with the use of the vdm.law Web Site.

Links To Third Party Sites

The vdm.law Web Site may contain links to other Web Sites ("Linked Sites"). The Linked Sites are not under the control of vdm.law and vdm.law is not responsible for the contents of any Linked Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Linked Site, or any changes or updates to a Linked Site. vdm.law is not responsible for webcasting or any other form of transmission received from any Linked Site. vdm.law is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by vdm.law of the site or any association with its operators.

No Unlawful Or Prohibited Use

As a condition of your use of the vdm.law Web Site, you warrant to vdm.law that you will not use the vdm.law Web Site for any purpose that is unlawful or prohibited by these terms, conditions, and notices. You may not use the vdm.law Web Site in any manner which could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the vdm.law Web Site or interfere with any other party's use and enjoyment of the vdm.law Web Site. You may not obtain or attempt to obtain any materials or information through any means not intentionally made available or provided for through the vdm.law Web Sites.

Use Of Communication Services

The vdm.law Web Site may contain bulletin board services, chat areas, news groups, forums, communities, personal web pages, calendars, and/or other message or communication facilities designed to enable you to communicate with the public at large or with a group (collectively, "Communication Services"), you agree to use the Communication Services only to post, send and receive messages and material that are proper and related to the particular Communication Service. By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using a Communication Service, you will not:

  • Defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as rights of privacy and publicity) of others.
  • Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information.
  • Upload files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws (or by rights of privacy of publicity) unless you own or control the rights thereto or have received all necessary consents.
  • Upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer.
  • Advertise or offer to sell or buy any goods or services for any business purpose, unless such Communication Service specifically allows such messages.
  • Conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes or chain letters.
  • Download any file posted by another user of a Communication Service that you know, or reasonably should know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.
  • Falsify or delete any author attributions, legal or other proper notices or proprietary designations or labels of the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded.
  • Restrict or inhibit any other user from using and enjoying the Communication Services.
  • Violate any code of conduct or other guidelines which may be applicable for any particular Communication Service.
  • Harvest or otherwise collect information about others, including e-mail addresses, without their consent.
  • Violate any applicable laws or regulations.

vdm.law has no obligation to monitor the Communication Services. However, vdm.law reserves the right to review materials posted to a Communication Service and to remove any materials in its sole discretion. vdm.law reserves the right to terminate your access to any or all of the Communication Services at any time without notice for any reason whatsoever.

vdm.law reserves the right at all times to disclose any information as necessary to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process or governmental request, or to edit, refuse to post or to remove any information or materials, in whole or in part, in vdm.law's sole discretion.

Always use caution when giving out any personally identifying information about yourself or your children in any Communication Service. vdm.law does not control or endorse the content, messages or information found in any Communication Service and, therefore, vdm.law specifically disclaims any liability with regard to the Communication Services and any actions resulting from your participation in any Communication Service. Managers and hosts are not authorized vdm.law spokespersons, and their views do not necessarily reflect those of vdm.law.

Materials uploaded to a Communication Service may be subject to posted limitations on usage, reproduction and/or dissemination. You are responsible for adhering to such limitations if you download the materials.

MATERIALS PROVIDED TO vdm.law OR POSTED AT ANY vdm.law WEB SITE

vdm.law does not claim ownership of the materials you provide to vdm.law (including feedback and suggestions) or post, upload, input or submit to any vdm.law Web Site or its associated services (collectively "Submissions"). However, by posting, uploading, inputting, providing or submitting your Submission you are granting vdm.law, its affiliated companies and necessary sublicensees permission to use your Submission in connection with the operation of their Internet businesses including, without limitation, the rights to: copy, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform, reproduce, edit, translate and reformat your Submission; and to publish your name in connection with your Submission.

No compensation will be paid with respect to the use of your Submission, as provided herein. vdm.law is under no obligation to post or use any Submission you may provide and may remove any Submission at any time in vdm.law's sole discretion.

By posting, uploading, inputting, providing or submitting your Submission you warrant and represent that you own or otherwise control all of the rights to your Submission as described in this section including, without limitation, all the rights necessary for you to provide, post, upload, input or submit the Submissions.

Liability Disclaimer

THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN OR AVAILABLE THROUGH THE vdm.law WEB SITE MAY INCLUDE INACCURACIES OR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY ADDED TO THE INFORMATION HEREIN. vdm.law AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS MAY MAKE IMPROVEMENTS AND/OR CHANGES IN THE vdm.law WEB SITE AT ANY TIME. ADVICE RECEIVED VIA THE vdm.law WEB SITE SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON FOR PERSONAL, MEDICAL, LEGAL OR FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL FOR SPECIFIC ADVICE TAILORED TO YOUR SITUATION.

vdm.law AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE SUITABILITY, RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, TIMELINESS, AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS CONTAINED ON THE vdm.law WEB SITE FOR ANY PURPOSE. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL SUCH INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND. vdm.law AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH REGARD TO THIS INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL vdm.law AND/OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THE vdm.law WEB SITE, WITH THE DELAY OR INABILITY TO USE THE vdm.law WEB SITE OR RELATED SERVICES, THE PROVISION OF OR FAILURE TO PROVIDE SERVICES, OR FOR ANY INFORMATION, SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND RELATED GRAPHICS OBTAINED THROUGH THE vdm.law WEB SITE, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF THE vdm.law WEB SITE, WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF vdm.law OR ANY OF ITS SUPPLIERS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME STATES/JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH ANY PORTION OF THE vdm.law WEB SITE, OR WITH ANY OF THESE TERMS OF USE, YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY IS TO DISCONTINUE USING THE vdm.law WEB SITE.

Service Contact: info@vdm.law

Termination/Access Restriction

vdm.law reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate your access to the vdm.law Web Site and the related services or any portion thereof at any time, without notice. GENERAL To the maximum extent permitted by law, this agreement is governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. and you hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of courts in Sandton in the Republic of South Africa in all disputes arising out of or relating to the use of the vdm.law Web Site. Use of the vdm.law Web Site is unauthorized in any jurisdiction that does not give effect to all provisions of these terms and conditions, including without limitation this paragraph. You agree that no joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and vdm.law as a result of this agreement or use of the vdm.law Web Site. vdm.law's performance of this agreement is subject to existing laws and legal process, and nothing contained in this agreement is in derogation of vdm.law's right to comply with governmental, court and law enforcement requests or requirements relating to your use of the vdm.law Web Site or information provided to or gathered by vdm.law with respect to such use. If any part of this agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable pursuant to applicable law including, but not limited to, the warranty disclaimers and liability limitations set forth above, then the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision and the remainder of the agreement shall continue in effect. Unless otherwise specified herein, this agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the user and vdm.law with respect to the vdm.law Web Site and it supersedes all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether electronic, oral or written, between the user and vdm.law with respect to the vdm.law Web Site. A printed version of this agreement and of any notice given in electronic form shall be admissible in judicial or administrative proceedings based upon or relating to this agreement to the same extent an d subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form. It is the express wish to the parties that this agreement and all related documents be drawn up in English.

Copyright And Trademark Notices

All contents of the vdm.law Web Site are: Copyright 2019 by vdm.law and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved.

Trademarks

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

The example companies, organizations, products, people and events depicted herein are fictitious. No association with any real company, organization, product, person, or event is intended or should be inferred.

Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved.