Maryna holds the BA, LLB, LLM degrees and is a Director at the Cape Town branch of STBB. She is an admitted Attorney, Notary Public, Conveyancer and Insolvency Practitioner with many years of experience in the fields of property law, conveyancing and the laws relating to corporate compliance (especially in respect of the FICA and POPIA laws). Up until 2018 she was also head of the firm’s national marketing portfolio. She is a seasoned public speaker and presenter, both in person and online. She prepares text for the majority of STBB’s internal and external publications and is editor and co-writer for two pivotal publications in the South African real estate industry – the ABC of Conveyancing (JUTA) and Delport’s South African Property Law and Practice (JUTA).

Property Law Update – Issue 20 – 2020

FRAMING THE BODY CORPORATE’S CLAIM AGAINST THE DEVELOPER FOR BUILDING NEGLIGENCE

Central Developments Tshwane (Pty) Ltd and Another v Body Corporate, Twee Riviere Aftree Oord (635/2019) [2020] ZASCA 107 (21 September 2020)

It is perhaps surprising that something so simple had to be clarified by our appeal court. Here, the body corporate instituted action against the developer of a retirement scheme for negligence in the building works. The claim was based on the Sectional Titles Schemes Management Act’s provision in section 7(2)(e) that allows it to institute action against a developer on the strength of a special resolution. The special resolution was absent, but the court noted that the Act also empowers the body corporate, in section 7(2)(b), to institute proceedings for damage to the common property sans the requirement of a special resolution. As the damages in the present matter were in respect of common property, the body corporate indeed had the right to proceed against the developer, even absent a special resolution.

The Judgment
Summary of the Judgment

LOVE AND NO MARRIAGE: REALITY CHECK IF YOU ASSUME SHARED WEALTH

Khan v Shaik (641/2019) [2020] ZASCA 108 (21 September 2020)

Cohabitation and jointly working towards creating wealth are elusively akin to a civil marriage in many respects. As this judgment shows, it is legally a dangerous illusion. Assets in such a ‘partnership’ are not owned jointly without more, and claims for division of partnership assets can prescribe.

The Judgment
Summary of the Judgment

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