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samanthas@stbb.co.za
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- Dr Samantha Smith holds a BSocSci, LLB, LLM, and PhD (Law) from UCT. An innovative thinker, she strategises, plans, and produces STBB’s content across all channels and platforms and works on corporate and marketing collateral.
All About Property | When deadlines matter: Deposit forfeiture and the Conventional Penalties Act
A relatively recent decision of the Johannesburg High Court provides important guidance on the enforcement of deposit forfeiture clauses in sale agreements and the limited role of the Conventional Penalties Act in relieving defaulting purchasers. Crucially, the judgment is a
Read MoreAll About Property | Property rights alert: Does the ConCourt ruling impact your marriage?
In a seminal and highly publicised ruling, the Constitutional Court recently confirmed a critical legal principle directly impacting married couples’ property rights: Once married, you cannot change your matrimonial property regime by private agreement alone. Instead, a court application under
Read MoreAirbnb and commercial property rates: The City of Cape Town proposes new Short-Term Letting By-law
In a bid to improve compliance with existing Rates Policy, the City of Cape Town last week released a media statement indicating its intention to publish a draft Short-Term Letting By-law for public comment. Against the backdrop of debates surrounding
Read MoreConveyancing Correspondent | Understanding the latest amendments to the Deeds Registries Act Regulations
Against the backdrop of South Africa’s shift towards the full-scale implementation of an electronic deeds registration system (‘e-DRS’), new amendments to the Regulations under the Deeds Registries Act were recently published. Although limited in scope, the amended provisions, which take
Read MorePulse | Planning for the future: Is your estate plan fit for 2026?
Estate planning is not a once-off exercise. As personal circumstances, legislation, and financial structures evolve, so should your estate plan. With 2026 in full swing, now is an appropriate time to assess whether your will and broader estate planning arrangements
Read MorePulse | Thinking about divorce? Key considerations before you decide
For many, the start of a new year can trigger difficult questions about the future of a marriage. If you are contemplating divorce in 2026, it is critical to understand that the decisions made at this stage carry significant legal
Read MorePulse | Holiday contact disputes: What separated parents should know
With the new school year in full swing, many separated or divorced parents find themselves dealing with more than just back-to-school routines. For some, the summer break has highlighted – or worsened – ongoing holiday contact disputes and related co-parenting
Read MoreNewsflash | Favouring stability: Why SARB’s repo rate hold bodes well for property
This afternoon, the Monetary Policy Committee of the South African Reserve Bank (‘SARB’) convened its first sitting of 2026. Against the backdrop of discussions around the removal of the prime lending rate, SARB has cautiously opted to keep the repo
Read MoreWestern Cape Newsflash | Update: Delays at Cape Town Deeds Office
In a continued bid to keep our valued clients informed, kindly be advised that the Western Cape Deeds Registry: Cape Town is currently experiencing unforeseen delays due to higher-than-normal December 2025 lodgement volumes. In an informative notice issued last Friday,
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