The Cat and Mouse Game in the Enforcement of Arbitration Awards: The Interface between the Labour Relations Act Amendments and Stalingrad Litigation

by | Oct 4, 2025 | ILJ, ILJ V46 I4

The Cat and Mouse Game in the Enforcement of Arbitration Awards: The Interface between the Labour Relations Act Amendments and Stalingrad Litigation

Author Carlos J Tchawouo Mbiada

ISSN: 2413-9874
Affiliations: Senior Lecturer, Department of Mercantile and Private Law, University of Venda
Source: Industrial Law Journal, Volume 46 Issue 4, 2025, p. 2310 – 2332
https://doi.org/10.47348/ILJ/V46/i4a3

Abstract

The effective resolution of disputes is a key feature of the South African labour relations framework: it is of critical importance that disputes be resolved speedily and expeditiously. The objective of this article is to analyse the reasons for the delay in resolving disputes notwithstanding legislative provisions designed to achieve this. In particular it focuses on the delay in the enforcement of arbitration awards as far as review applications in the Labour Court are concerned. It is revealed that, notwithstanding the legislative intention to resolve labour disputes in a speedy manner, there is a substantial lapse of time from the moment an award is issued to the time that the award is finally executed, if ever. The delaying tactics, commonly known as Stalingrad litigation, is a phenomenon which hinders the speedy resolution of labour disputes. It is argued that frivolous review applications are the visible face of such tactics. The legislature has, over the years, amended the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 to address these delaying tactics. However, despite the legislative effort, the practice is yet to stop. This is partly because labour tribunals operate as courts of law, equity and fairness in the determination of disputes, and thus are prone to extreme leniency which dishonest litigants exploit. This contribution suggests a stricter application of clauses 7(2) and 69(2) of the Labour Court’s new rules to obviate such a delay.

The Relevancy of Expunged Criminal Records in Employment Matters in South Africa: O’Connor v LexisNexis (Pty) Ltd (2024) 45 ILJ 1287 (LC)

by | Oct 4, 2025 | ILJ, ILJ V46 I4

The Relevancy of Expunged Criminal Records in Employment Matters in South Africa: O’Connor v LexisNexis (Pty) Ltd (2024) 45 ILJ 1287 (LC)

Author Jamil Ddamulira Mujuzi

ISSN: 2413-9874
Affiliations: Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape
Source: Industrial Law Journal, Volume 46 Issue 4, 2025, p. 2333 – 2344
https://doi.org/10.47348/ILJ/V46/i4a4

Abstract

Sections 271B-271E of the Criminal Procedure Act provide for the expungement of some criminal records but are silent on the effect of such expungement. The drafting history shows that the effect of an expungement is that the person shall be regarded as never having been convicted of the offence for all intents and purposes. However, in O’Connor v LexisNexis (Pty) Ltd, the Labour Court failed to give effect to the intention of the legislature when it held that when a conviction is expunged, it becomes irrelevant for the purpose of sentencing but still relevant for the purpose of employment. The court also held that the refusal by an employer to employ a person simply because of his or her criminal record may amount to unfair discrimination under s 6 of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 if there is no evidence that the record will prevent him or her from doing the job in question. The court’s reasoning in this regard should be applauded and should extend to instances where criminal records have not yet been expunged.

Die stand van Afrikaans in ons regswese in historiese perspektief en ’n vooruitskouing

by | Sep 27, 2025 | TSAR, TSAR 2025 I4

ARTIKEL

Die stand van Afrikaans in ons regswese in historiese perspektief en ’n vooruitskouing

Author: TJ Scott

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Professor extraordinarius in Privaatreg, Universiteit van Suid-Afrika
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2025, p. 649-669
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2025/i4a1

Abstract

8 May 2025 marks the centenary of the recognition of Afrikaans as an official language. Notwithstanding all the celebrations commemorating this event, the present position of Afrikaans can be regarded as precarious. This tendency is incidental to the political development of our subcontinent and the historical handicap experienced by the majority of the population in South Africa before 1994.
In this historical review an account is provided of the legal language in sway during subsequent periods since the establishment of the first European settlement at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652, up to the present. This survey first touches upon the position regarding the official language and, more specifically, the judicial means of communication in each era, and then covers the status of Afrikaans as a language of tuition. Regarding the first theme, the following periods are subjected to scrutiny: (i) the mainly Dutch East India era: 1652-1806; (ii) the position in the Cape since 1806 and Natal since 1843; (iii) the position in the Boer republics; (iv) the period after the Second Anglo-Boer War: 1902-1910; and (v) the period after Unification: 1910 to the present. Thereafter the emergence of Afrikaans as a language of tuition is evaluated.
In the second part of the article dealing with the continued viability of Afrikaans as an official language and language of record, as well as a medium of tuition, the main reasons for the decline of Afrikaans are addressed and evaluated. The establishment of 11 official languages in our constitution and the decree in terms of which Mogoeng CJ declared English as the only official language of record in 2017 are identified as the main reasons for the decline of Afrikaans as a means of communication in legal practice. The abolition of Afrikaans as language of tuition at all previously Afrikaans tertiary institutions – with concomitant effects such as the reluctance of publishers to continue producing Afrikaans textbooks and academics’ preference for publishing in English in order to gain a good rating from the National Research Foundation (NRF) – is identified as a crucial debilitating factor for Afrikaans as a medium of tuition.
It is suggested that Afrikaans may still survive as a medium of communication in the legal sphere if the method of the Canadian supreme court of writing judgments in two columns (English and French) is followed. This method has recently found favour in judgments of our supreme court of appeal (English and Xhosa) and constitutional court (English and Afrikaans). This strategy is particularly commendable, because it represents a “practical and positive” measure as determined by section 6(2) of the constitution, which recognises the historically diminished use and status of our indigenous languages and mandates the state to take practical and positive measures to elevate their status and advance their use. Although the future of Afrikaans is ultimately dependent on the loyalty of its speakers towards the language in which they were brought up, its continued existence is bolstered by the fact that there are still numerous Afrikaans legal firms conducting their day-to-day business in Afrikaans, while the possibility of financial inputs by Afrikaans capital may present additional support for enhancing the relevance of Afrikaans as a language of record.

Towards repair? Incoherences in the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the need for legislative reform

by | Sep 27, 2025 | TSAR, TSAR 2025 I4

ARTIKEL

Towards repair? Incoherences in the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the need for legislative reform

Author: D Bilchitz

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Professor of Law, University of Johannesburg; Professor of Law, University of Reading
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2025, p. 670-695
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2025/i4a2

Abstract

Hierdie artikel spreek ’n onontginde tema in akademiese literatuur aan rakende die ontwerp van strukture om diere te beskerm. Suid-Afrika het ’n ongewone wet, naamlik die Wet op Dierebeskermingsverenigings 169 van 1993, wat ’n regspersoon stig wat bekend staan as die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings. Deur sommige parlementêre debatte rondom hierdie wetgewing, sowel as die bepalings daarvan te ondersoek, argumenteer ek dat die wet verskeie teenstrydighede rakende die aard, rol en befondsing van die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings bevat.
In die besonder argumenteer ek dat die wet (saam met die grondwet van die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings) twee teenstrydige sienings aangaande die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings bevat. Die eerste is as ’n “sambreelorganisasie” wat die belange van sy lede verteenwoordig – outonome individuele dierebeskermingsverenigings. Die tweede is as ’n “regulatoriese afdwingingsliggaam” oor daardie individuele dierebeskermingsverenigings. Daardie twee benaderings is onversoenbaar. Dit word uitgelig deur verskeie onlangse voorbeelde van hoëprofiel-litigasie wat individuele verenigings teenoor die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings stel. Hierdie gevalle illustreer ook hoe hierdie teenstrydighede lei tot kommer dat die regulatoriese afdwingingsbevoegdhede van die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings nie te goeder trou uitgevoer word nie. Byvoorbeeld, ’n onlangse saak het behels dat die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings sy regulatoriese afdwingingsbevoegdhede na bewering misbruik het om die samestelling te bepaal van sy eie algemene jaarvergadering waar kontroversiële besluite bespreek is wat nie deur die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings se leierskap ondersteun is nie. Hierdie probleem word vererger deur die teenstrydige bepalings in die wet oor befondsing en funksies. Dit lei tot ’n strukturele belangebotsing aangaande die manier wat die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings sy regulatoriese afdwingingspligte uitvoer – dit kan byvoorbeeld finansieel baat by die beperking van die aantal verenigings wat geregistreer kan word, sowel as die sluiting van sommige van die verenigings.
Ek stel voor dat wetshervorming die beste manier is om hierdie teenstrydighede aan te spreek. Ek stel verder voor dat die Nasionale Raad van Dierebeskermingsverenigings se regulatoriese afdwingingsbevoegdhede oor individuele verenigings geskrap moet word. In plaas daarvan behoort die organisasie ’n baie duideliker stel doelwitte te hê – wat insluit om ’n spreekbuis op nasionale vlak vir individuele verenigings te wees, dierewelsynsprobleme van nasionale belang aan te spreek, dierewelsynsdienste te verskaf in dele van Suid-Afrika wat nie deur individuele verenigings bedien word nie en voort te gaan om sy afdwingingsbevoegdhede teen dieremishandeling deur private vervolgings uit te oefen.

The sequestration and possible rehabilitation of a trust in South African law – a critical analysis of Conradie v Master of the High Court: Kimberley (1260/2006) 2008 ZANCHC 50 (13 June 2008)

by | Sep 27, 2025 | TSAR, TSAR 2025 I4

ARTIKEL

The sequestration and possible rehabilitation of a trust in South African law – a critical analysis of Conradie v Master of the High Court: Kimberley (1260/2006) 2008 ZANCHC 50 (13 June 2008)

Author: P Bothma

ISSN: 1996-2207
Affiliations: Advocate of the high court of South Africa, member of the Cape Bar and the Johannesburg Society of Advocates
Source: Tydskrif vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Reg, Issue 4, 2025, p. 696-710
https://doi.org/10.47348/TSAR/2025/i4a3

Abstract

Dit is geyk dat insolvente trusts, beide testamentêr en inter vivos, gesekwestreer word ingevolge die Insolvensiewet 24 van 1936 en nie gelikwideer word ingevolge die bepalings van die Maatskappywet 61 van 1973 nie. Daar is egter nie eenstemmigheid oor of ’n gesekwestreerde trust wel gerehabiliteer kan word nie. In weerwil van akademiese kommentaar tot die teendeel, het die Noord-Kaapse hooggeregshof in Conradie v Master of the High Court: Kimberley beslis dat ’n trust wat gesekwestreer is, wél vatbaar is vir rehabilitasie.
Hierdie bydrae ondersoek dié teenstrydige sieninge rakende die rehabilitasie van ’n trust en die gevolgtrekking word bereik dat, weens die besondere aard van die trust in Suid-Afrika, ’n trust nie vatbaar is vir rehabilitasie is nie.
Na aanleiding van ’n kritiese analise van die kommentaar deur die Franse akademikus, Lepaulle, word daarop ag geslaan dat die trust in Suid-Afrika gekonsepsualiseer word as ’n boedel. Oorweging van regspraak insake die insolvensiereg wys daarop dat daar ’n onderskeid getref word tussen ’n “insolvent” en die “insolvente boedel”. Die insolvent verwys na die persoon wie se boedel gesekwestreer word en dit is nie die insolvent wat gesekwestreer word nie, maar wel die insolvent se boedel. ’n Gevolg van sekwestrasie is dat die insolvente boedel voortaan vestig in ’n trustee, gemagtig deur die meester, en dat die regstatus van die persoon wie se boedel gesekwestreer is verander na dié van ’n “insolvent”. Alhoewel ’n insolvent onmiddellik ’n nuwe boedel bekom, is sy vermoë om daarmee te handel beperk gegewe sy status as insolvent. ’n Insolvent se status word gerehabiliteer óf deur die verloop van tyd ingevolge die bepalings van die Insolvensiewet, óf by wyse van ’n hofbevel. So ’n rehabilitasie het egter nie tot gevolg dat die gesekwestreerde boedel voortaan in die voormalige insolvent vestig nie, maar eerder dat die voormalige insolvent onbelemmerd met die nuwe boedel kan handel. Dit is juis hierdie onderskeid tussen “insolvent” en “insolvente boedel” wat verklaar waarom ’n trust nie vatbaar is vir rehabilitasie nie. Aangesien ’n trust gekonsepsualiseer word as ’n boedel, en aangesien ’n gesekwestreerde boedel nie gerehabiliteer word nie, volg dit dat trusts ook nie gerehabiliteer kan word nie.
Hierdie bydrae ondersoek ’n verdere vraag: indien ’n trustboedel nie vatbaar is vir rehabilitasie nie, kan die amp van trusteeskap gerehabiliteer word?
Om hierdie vraag te beantwoord word die wisselwerking tussen die amp van trusteeskap en die trustboedel ondersoek en daar word aan die hand gedoen dat die amp van trusteeskap nie onafhanklik van die trustboedel kan bestaan nie. Trustees word aangestel ten opsigte van ’n spesifieke trustboedel en regverdig nie ’n onafhanklike bestaansreg nie. Gevolglik, sal die amp van trusteeskap ook beëindig word sodra die trustboedel afgehandel is, en kan daar nie sprake wees van die rehabilitasie van die amp van trusteeskap nie.