Investors ‘in droves’ if African courts free: Chief Justice
THOUGH beset by serious problems of his own, South Africa’s Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng has a lot of advice for judges in the rest of Africa. Speaking at Chatham House in London last month, the Chief Justice’s given topic was ‘The Rule of Law in South Africa:...
What’s the law to do when ‘she’ is ‘he’ in court papers – does it matter?
WHY does the law have such an obsession about gender? A stupid question perhaps, but one I found myself asking the other day as I read court papers in which – as usual – everyone identified themselves in their affidavits according to whether they were male or female....
Is this South Africa’s second worst family?
WHILE the sordid drama of the Mandelas grips the world, a second local clan has emerged to challenge them, nouveau pretenders to the title of the ultimate South African dysfunctional family, torn apart by money and power. Let me introduce the Knipes of the Northern...
When judges dissent …
WHEN judges dissent what does it mean for ordinary people? – Mostly very little. But there are occasions when a judgment spelling out why a judge disagrees with the majority can mean a great deal. Sometimes it’s hard for a non-lawyer to see the point in a dissent: it...
Smithfield’s Platteland Preview: the dream that came true
We were unmasked as country bumpkins even before the festival started. That moment of truth arrived when actor David Butler pitched a whole day before his first performance. We helped unpack the set from the top of his car, carefully carrying the four walls of the...
SA’s Constitutional Court deals blow to Zimbabwe government, saying Zim property in SA may be sold
THE government of Zimbabwe has been dealt a telling blow by South Africa’s highest court: in a unanimous decision delivered this morning, the South African Constitutional Court ruled that property owned by the Zimbabwean government in South Africa could be sold to...
Smithfield’s Platteland Preview festival breaks into radio!
Smithfield’s first arts festival, the Platteland Preview, runs from June 21 – 23, bringing choice fringe performers from Grahamstown’s National Arts Festival to the countryside. We’re still amazed that it’s all happening, but if you hear it on the radio it must be...
Challenge launched to the way judicial appointments are made
The Helen Suzman Foundation has launched a high court application challenging a number of recent decisions by the Judicial Service Commission. The application claims the decisions were invalid as they were ‘irrational’. Explaining why the foundation has taken this...
Platteland Preview festival marks new era for our Free State dorp
EXACTLY a year ago, two guests arrived at my door: a friend and his actor daughter. As dinner ended she said she couldn’t go to bed immediately: she needed another run-through of the show she was taking to Grahamstown’s National Arts Festival. Would she like an...
Desperately seeking Natasha Chang
IF you search the Web for ‘Natasha Chang’ you can take your pick. There’s a rather gorgeous top Caribbean motorsport driver, who describes herself as ‘a young, petite woman driving a big boy’s car and having some fun’. She suggests that if you want to excel in racing...