Constitutional Law

25 Jun 2025

A Thought for Mandela Month – How Does Ubuntu Impact Your Legal Rights?

“In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others.” (Nelson Mandela) International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated worldwide on 18 July every year, but in South Africa the whole of July is Mandela Month. What better time to talk about the concept of “ubuntu”, which emphasises our interconnectedness and interdependence, and embraces values like fairness, compassion, respect and dignity? How does ubuntu influence your legal rights? Our courts have often considered, and sometimes applied, the principles of ubuntu in a wide variety of legal contexts. The…

28 Jan 2025

By Ashersons Attorneys

Braai Chain Hauled Over the Coals for Hidden Service Charges and Fined R1m

“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing… If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.” (Groucho Marx) We’ve all had this experience – meal over, relaxed and happy, you call for the bill and decide to reward your friendly and helpful waitron with a good tip. Only to find, on checking the bill when you get home, that the restaurant had already added a “compulsory service charge” (perhaps 10% or 15% – sometimes even more). When you challenge it, the manager points to the small print on the menu which says something like “service charge applies to…