Court dismisses application with punitive costs By John Yeld The government has lost an attempt to side-step a High Court challenge to its controversial decision to allow coal mining in a protected area in the threatened Mpumalanga grasslands. On Wednesday, Judge Norman Davis of the Pretoria High Court dismissed the state’s application to postpone indefinitely a review application being brought by a coalition...

Bongile Joni pleads guilty, sentenced to an effective eight years in prison By Kim Reynolds Bongile Joni pleaded guilty on Thursday in the Strand Magistrate’s Regional Court to the murder of Noxolo Xakeka. Magistrate Franselien Mouton sentenced him to an effective eight years in prison. The murder took place on 1 January. Joni gave his version of events to the court on Thursday:...

Pretoria High Court orders banks to use magistrates’ courts when acting against debtors 4 October 2018   By Ciaran Ryan A full bench of the Pretoria High Court ruled last week that magistrates’ courts should be the first port of call for banks seeking judgment against their clients. On Wednesday we explained the arguments in the case that dealt with access to justice for distressed...