Strategic litigation decisions and prescription: a cautionary tale
Facts On 10 April 2016, the Plaintiff was admitted to a private hospital complaining of pain in her left knee. Unbeknown to anyone at the time, the Plaintiff had suffered a ruptured aneurysm in her popliteal artery, resulting in limited blood flow to her lower left leg. The rupture went untreated for a critical period, …
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Kyk gou wat doen ‘n blazer! From TikTok to Trademarks: Can a viral trend give you trade mark rights overnight?
15 May 2026 South Africans can’t stop saying it: “kyk wat doen ’n blazer”! What started as a single video has turned into a nationwide trend — and potentially something far more valuable: a commercial asset.
Indigenous Biological Resources, cannabis and the conundrum of human introduction
Cannabis is once again in the news in South Africa, with the recent announcement by various government departments of a national cannabis master plan to establish a formal cannabis and hemp industry. At the same time, the government has a long-standing commitment to protecting its local biodiversity, which is embodied in the National Environmental Management: …
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AI in Africa: Regulations are catching up and the courts are already there
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in Africa. It is here, it is being used, and it is now reshaping regulatory agendas and courtroom practice across the continent.
Regulatory matters: policing the regulators: judicial oversight of disciplinary decisions
The judgment of the Free State Division of the High Court, delivered on 19 March 2026, serves as a compelling reminder that the decisions of professional regulatory bodies are not beyond scrutiny. The case concerned a Rule 53 review application brought by the applicant, a qualified accountant and Associate General Accountant member of the South …
Dismissal for want of prosecution in South African Law: a strategic imperative for Defendants
INTRODUCTION In a recent Johannesburg High Court judgment, the plaintiff, Karanie, instituted action against the life insurer, the defendant, in December 2012 for payment of benefits allegedly due under a life insurance policy. The Defendant defended the action and filed a counterclaim to recover payments already paid under the policy. The matter was then enrolled …
South Africa Implements the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification
Article by Marcelle Samons, admitted attorney and associate in the Trade Mark Prosecution department and overseen by Alicia van der Walt a partner in the Trade Marks Department both from Adams & Adams
WAS THE DECISION BY THE NPA TO REMOVE COUNTERFEIT GOODS MATTERS FROM THE COMMERCIAL CRIMES COURT IN LINE WITH THE RIGHT OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE AS SET OUT IN SECTION 34 OF THE CONSTITUTION?
South Africa is a constitutional democracy, which means that it is a country which observes human rights principles and is governed by the rule of law.