Legal Updates: 22 September to 3 October 2025

This update includes a brief selection of highlights from our paid subscription-based comprehensive newsletters and the latest blog posts. View free sample copies of our newsletters at https://www.lexinfo.co.za/newsletters or contact us at alert@lexinfo.co.za for more information or a quotation.

The latest edition of our Legal Update features several Government Gazette notices as well as draft Bills, new publications, judgments and articles discussing current legal matters.

The next edition of the Legal Update will be published on Friday, 10 October 2025.

ATTORNEY ALERT: 22 AND 29 SEPTEMBER 2025

The edition for 15 to 22 September refers to the following Supreme Court of Appeal judgments:

• Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association and Another v Mafisa (664/2024) [2025] ZASCA 135 (18 September 2025)

• South Durban Community Environmental Alliance and Another v Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Others (479/2023) [2025] ZASCA 134 (17 September 2025)

• Tight Business Enterprises CC v Lordan NO and Others (356/24) [2025] ZASCA 133 (17 September 2025)

Also featured are several articles, such as:

• Broughton, Tania. Police ministry told to pay over R2m to farmer after mob slaughtered animals. [Raath v Minister of Police (9654/2015) [2025] ZAKZDHC 59 (16 September 2025)] – 2025 Sep 19 BusinessDay

• Howell, Simon and Rusenga, Clemence. Comparative analysis of cannabis legalization in South Africa and Zimbabwe: Trajectories, commonalities, and divergences. – 2025 7(2) Journal of Illicit Economies and Development p70

• Kiewitz, L.-A. The permanence of the termination of a servitude upon merger, or its revival upon the separation of the tenements. – 2025 88(2) Tydskrif vir Hedendaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg p276

• Swemmer, Sheena. An ubuntu approach to the realisation of animal rights under the South African Constitution. – 2024 40(3–4) South African Journal on Human Rights p226

• Venter, Zelda. Repossession order quashed after Mercedes-Benz sends e-mail to the wrong address. [Mphuthi v Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (Pty) Ltd (2024-071086) [2025] ZAGPPHC 905 (19 August 2025)] – 2025 Sep 15 IOL News

• Zitzke, Emile. Chatbots and negligent misstatements: Common-law delictual liability. – 2025 88(2) Tydskrif vir Hedendaagse Romeins-Hollandse Reg p180

This latest edition refers to the following new publications:

• Hellinx, Elke. Policy Instruments in International Wildlife Law: The Legal Framework for Large Carnivore Conservation in Southern Africa. – Intersentia, 2025.

• Salazar, Philippe-Joseph. Drone Regulations in South Africa. – Juta, 2025.

Also featured are several Government Gazette notices and draft Bills, such as:

• Business Licensing Bill, 2025. – GN6676 GG 53426 p38 26Sep2025

• Children’s Amendment Bill, 2025. – GN6677 GG 53426 p39 26Sep2025

• Customary Initiation Act 2 of 2021. Customary Initiation Regulations. – RGN6680 GG 53436 p3 26Sep2025

• Department of Transport. Comprehensive Civil Aviation Policy. Draft Airfreight Strategy for South Africa. Comments invited within 30 working days of publication. – GenN3529 GG 53426 p202 26Sep2025

• Protection of Personal Information Act 14 of 2013. Draft Regulations relating to the processing of data subjects’ health or sex life by certain responsible parties in terms of section 112(2)(c) of the Act. – GN6673 GG 53426 p32 26Sep2025

Several articles are included, such as:

• Mashinini, Nomalanga. Deepfakes and South African law: Remedies on paper, gaps in practice. – 2025 Sep 21 The Conversation

• Paddock, Graham. How generative AI is reshaping community scheme management, and what it means. – 2025 20(7) Paddocks Press

• Poswa, Xavia. The role and duty of traditional leadership in strengthening the insecure land rights of rural communities in South Africa. – 2025 (12) Journal of Law, Society and Development

• Wright, Johandri. Justice delayed for a whistleblower: Lessons from the Bloem case. [Greater Taung Local Municipality v Office of the Public Protector and Others (89658/2018) [2025] ZAGPPHC 776 (1 August 2025)] – 2025 20(3) Local Government Bulletin

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EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR LAW ALERT: 29 SEPTEMBER 2025

This week’s edition contains a reference to the following article regarding the latest Labour Appeal Court judgment:

• Mawson, Nicola. SABC's victory in employment contract appeal: What it means for workers. [South African Broadcasting Corporation v Valla (JA 100/24) [2025] ZALAC 47 (22 September 2025)] – 2025 Sep 25 IOL News

Various recent Labour Court judgments are featured, such as:

• Msitshana v Commission for Conciliation, Mediation Arbitration and Others (JR271/2023) [2025] ZALCJHB 424 (9 September 2025)

• National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) obo Masilela and Others v SOS Children’s Village South Africa (JS 439/17) [2025] ZALCJHB 430 (12 September 2025)

Also included are the following articles:

• Masilela, Sinenhlanhla. Labour Court reinstates Sibanye Stillwater HR officer dismissed for working on a day off. [Sibanye Stillwater Ltd t-a Sibanye Gold Ltd v Commission for Conciliation Mediation Arbitration and Others (JR1452/22) [2025] ZALCJHB 431 (19 September 2025)] – 2025 Sep 26 IOL News

• Van Staden, Marthinus. Age-based dismissals after retirement: [Motor Industry Staff Association and Another v Great South Autobody CC t/a Great South Panelbeaters; Solidarity obo Strydom and Others v State Information Technology Agency SOC Ltd (CCT298/22; CCT346/22) [2024] ZACC 29 (20 December 2024)]. – 2025 (58) De Jure Law Journal p113

• Venter, Zelda. A sales manager just lost her job over two chocolate bars. [JDG (Pty) Ltd ta Hi Fi Corporation v Shear and Others (JR1014/18) [2025] ZALCJHB 402 (29 August 2025)] – 2025 Sep 15 The Star

INSURANCE LAW ALERT: 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

Tuesday’s edition contains references to the latest Financial Services Tribunal decisions, including:

• IUM (Pty) Ltd aka Alpha (Pty) Ltd v Financial Sector Conduct Authority (A9/2025) (18 September 2025)

The Corporation for Deposit Insurance has published a consultation paper titled “Draft strategy and timelines for reducing the Corporation for Deposit Insurance’s dependency on loan funding.”

Also featured are the following articles:

• Manavhela, Maano and Verhoogt, Alistair. RAF’s duty to compensate for medical expenses despite third-party payments. [ASB and Another v Road Accident Fund (977/2020) [2025] ZANCHC 89 (11 September 2025)] – 2025 Sep 22 Norton Rose Fulbright: Financial Institutions Legal Snapshot

• Scott, Rob and Sher, Zara. The impact on private actors (inclusive of insurers/reinsurers) of the recent Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of States in respect of climate change. – 2025 Sep 16 ENS

HEALTH LAW ALERT: 1 OCTOBER 2025

This week’s edition features the following journal articles:

• Kabata, Faith. Indigenous peoples’ human genomic sovereignty: Lessons for Africa. – 2025 25(3) Developing World Bioethics p190

• Omoruyi, Aisosa Jennifer; Knipe, Paula and Durojaye, Ebenezer. Preventing diet-related non-communicable diseases: A rights-based approach to improving health outcomes through food and nutrition security. – 2024 40(3–4) South African Journal on Human Rights p245

• Sarangarajan, Ruach and Ewuoso, Cornelius. Adults aged 65 years and older in South Africa have a responsibility to vaccinate against influenza. – 2025 25(3) Developing World Bioethics p228

• Yakubu, Aminu et al. Scoping review of the ethical regulations for Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementia research in Africa. – 2025 25(3) Developing World Bioethics p179

The Special Investigating Unit has released a progress report regarding its investigation into allegations of maladministration, fraud and corruption at Tembisa Hospital.

Also included is the following article concerning a recent High Court judgment:

• Pillay, Deniro and Lawlor, Amber. Court awards R2 million in general damages for child’s permanent blindness. [Van Rensburg NO obo KM v Member of the Executive Council for Health: Free State (688/2014) [2025] ZAFSHC 265 (29 August 2025)] – 2025 Sep 18 Norton Rose Fulbright: Financial Institutions Legal Snapshot

ENERGY LAW ALERT: 2 OCTOBER 2025

The latest edition contains references to the following High Court judgments:

• Jerrycar Branding (Pty) Ltd v Mafube Local Municipality and Others (4630/2024) [2025] ZAFSHC 286 (11 September 2025)

• Rio Tinto Mining and Exploration (Pty) Ltd v Buchuberg Resources (Pty) Ltd and Others (2024-044452) [2025] ZAGPPHC 967 (1 September 2025)

Also featured are the following articles:

• Gilili, Chris. Sand mining continues on banks of Limpopo, despite court orders. [Tshipise Safaris (Pty) Ltd v TD Nhlamulo and His Mother Logistics and Business Enterprises (Pty) Ltd and Others (538/2022) [2025] ZALMPPHC 124 (19 June 2025)] – 2025 Sep 25 Limpopo Mirror

• Minister can increase the fuel levy without parliamentary process. [Economic Freedom Fighters v Minister of Finance and Others (2025-078807) [2025] ZAWCHC 437 (22 September 2025)] – 2025 Sep 25 Moonstone

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Image design: Daniélle Geldenhuys

Date posted: 3 October 2025