MY
ARTICLES
samanthas@stbb.co.za
- Profile
- Dr Samantha Smith is a creative Attorney holding a BSocSci, LLB, LLM, and PhD (Law) from UCT. She leads content marketing & strategy across STBB's channels, thought leadership, SEO, and legal marketing collateral.
Newsflash | Parliament approves National Budget: Answering your key property-related questions on VAT
Amid extensive political debate over the proposed VAT hike, the Fiscal Framework for the 2025/26 National Budget was narrowly passed by Parliament last week. With the staggered VAT rate increase of 0.5% set to take effect on 1st May 2025,
Read MoreBlog | Arbitration vs mediation: Clarifying the distinction
Disputes are frequent and inevitable in both personal and business endeavours. In light of increasing court backlogs and the undesirability of protracted litigation, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, have emerged as viable alternatives to traditional litigation.
Read MoreConveyancing Correspondent | Payment requirements: Chief Registrar provides clarity in new circular
Pursuant to the commencement of the revised Schedule of Fees of Office on Tuesday, 1st April, and the imminent commencement of the amended Regulations to the Deeds Registries Act (‘the Regulations’), the Chief Registrar has issued another circular (‘CRC 5’) clarifying
Read MoreNewsflash | Employment law update: New earnings threshold takes effect today
For the fifth consecutive year, the Department of Employment and Labour has elected to increase the earnings threshold from R254 371.67 per annum to R261 748.45 per annum, with effect from today, 1st April 2025. Designed to safeguard lower-earning employees
Read MoreBlog | City of Cape Town: Take advantage of special rates rebate for pensioners and indigent households
In an ongoing bid to alleviate residents’ financial burdens, the City of Cape Town offers various assistance packages for specific categories of property owners, including special property rates rebates for qualifying pensioners and households eligible for indigent support. Our Western
Read MoreAll About Property | Construction law update: Government publishes draft Construction Regulations for public comment
In a move that may be of particular interest to STBB’s construction and property development clients, the Minister of Employment and Labour recently published draft Construction Regulations, which seek to improve occupational health and safety in the construction industry, for
Read MoreAll About Property | Tshwane & Ekurhuleni release 2025 General Valuation Rolls: Why property owners should note their objections
Recently, the Tshwane and Ekurhuleni municipalities published their General Valuation Rolls (‘GVRs’), which will determine municipal rates payable by property owners in respect of properties located within each municipal jurisdiction. Consequently, the need for property owners to carefully view the
Read MoreAll About Property | VAT increase proposed: Clarifying key questions in property transactions
In the property context, the proposed and much-discussed VAT rate increase of 0.5%, which will potentially take effect on 1st May 2025, raises three key questions: When is VAT payable in property sales, how does a VAT increase impact property
Read MoreAll About Property | March 2025
VAT increase proposed: Clarifying key questions in property transactions In the property context, the proposed and much-discussed VAT rate increase of 0.5%, which will potentially take effect on 1st May 2025, raises three key questions: When is VAT payable in
Read MoreConveyancing Correspondent | New circulars released: Chief Registrar provides clarity on recent amended Regulations
In light of the commencement of amended Regulations to both the Deeds Registries Act and Sectional Titles Act early next month, the Office of the Chief Registrar recently released two circulars (‘CRC 3’ and ‘CRC 4’) to clarify the nature
Read MoreContact Us
Let our 126 years of experience be your guide.
Copyright © STBB 2010 - 2026