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Posts from 2025

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How to Enforce a Judgment Against a Debtor Who Won’t Pay

Securing a court judgment is often seen as the final victory in a debt dispute. In reality, it is only the beginning. Many creditors are surprised to discover that even after a judge orders repayment, some debtors still refuse to comply. This leaves businesses and individuals facing the same cash flow pressure as befor

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Your Questions About Prescribed Debt Answered

In South Africa, debt does not hang over someone forever — the law sets strict time limits on when creditors can enforce payment. This is known as prescription of debt. For most everyday debts, such as credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, the period is three years from the date payment was due. Other debts,

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Unpaid Invoices? What to Do When a Client Refuses to Pay

Every unpaid invoice is a direct threat to cash flow and business stability. A polite reminder may work once, but persistent non-payment inevitably becomes a legal problem. In South Africa, once goods or services have been delivered, the invoice becomes a legally enforceable debt.

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Lawyers’ Fees in South Africa – Why Transparency Matters

Legal costs should never feel like a guessing game. When you instruct a lawyer, you're placing trust in someone who holds your rights, your business, or your future in their hands. That trust collapses the moment an invoice arrives filled with unexplained charges, or when the price of resolving a dispute doubles withou

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What Do Gauteng’s New Smart Licence Plates Mean for You?

For nearly three months, motorists in Gauteng have been hearing about the province's trial of new "smart" licence plates. Marketed as a breakthrough in the fight against crime, the plates are meant to make vehicle cloning and plate tampering significantly more difficult. Yet, despite the bold promises, clarity on their

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POPIA Compliance in Practice: Consent, Contact, and Keeping it Simple

Since the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) came into effect, businesses across South Africa have been scrambling to update contracts, change systems, and create new policies. While compliance is essential, we've seen many organisations go overboard — quoting legislation at clients, adding unnecessary red

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FICA and KYC: Documents and Compliance

In today's financial and property markets, compliance is not just a legal requirement — it's a safeguard for both businesses and clients. At Van Deventer Dowlath & Marx Incorporated (VDM), we take FICA (Financial Intelligence Centre Act) and KYC (Know Your Customer) obligations seriously, ensuring that every transactio

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Step-by-Step Guide: Getting Approval for Community Road Closures

In Johannesburg, residents can apply to close off public roads with security booms, gates, or guardhouses. This is regulated by the JRA's Road Closure Policy and requires formal approval before implementation.

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Legal Insights on South Africa’s $25bn Grid Expansion

South Africa is embarking on one of its most ambitious infrastructure undertakings: a $25 billion grid expansion project that will add more than 14,000 km of transmission lines to the national network. The initiative is a cornerstone in unlocking renewable energy generation, stabilising the grid, and enabling the count

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What Is an Urgent Application - and When Can You Use One?

Court proceedings are deliberate by design. Deadlines are measured in weeks and months, ensuring each party has time to prepare. But some disputes cannot wait. If a landlord is about to change the locks, if a bank is set to freeze an account, or if assets are being moved beyond reach - ordinary timeframes leave a litigation time bomb.

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Three Things to Cover in Every Listing Appointment

A listing appointment is your opportunity to build trust, position yourself as the expert, and set clear expectations with the seller. Too often, agents rely on generic presentations that focus on their own achievements instead of addressing the real issues sellers need to understand. If you want to stand out, make sur

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What Debt Collection Attorneys Can Do That Agents Can’t

Recovering unpaid debt is never just about persistence. Businesses and individuals often turn first to debt collection agents who phone, send reminders, or negotiate repayment. While these efforts may secure voluntary compliance, they stop at persuasion. If a debtor refuses to pay, an agent's authority ends there.

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