De Villiers & Pheiffer Attorneys

22/08/2026

Our August newsletter is out, and this month it is four judgments that all land on the same point. Write things down while everyone still agrees.

First, a cancelled sale. A purchaser took occupation of a Kyalami smallholding before transfer, and while he was there an arsonist burned down the restaurant. Neither party caused the fire, but the agreement placed the risk on him. When the deal collapsed, the court had to work out what fair restoration actually costs. The answer was not the price of a brand new building.

Second, a trust worth over R100 million. In his final years the founder told his family exactly how he wanted the capital shared. He never amended the trust deed. The Supreme Court of Appeal held that the deed governs, not the conversations.
Third, a couple who let out their family home after moving abroad. Their tenant argued the Consumer Protection Act protected him. It did not. But the order telling him to leave was still set aside, because a cancelled lease and an eviction are two separate legal steps.

Fourth, a manager who reported procurement irregularities and was dismissed for breaching an IT policy. The Labour Court saw it for what it was and reinstated him with full back pay.

Four very different disputes. One thread running through all of them.
Swipe through for the short version, or get in touch for the full newsletter.

www.dvpattorneys.co.za

21/08/2026

People often apologise when they sit down to talk about their will. As if it is a morbid thing to want.

It is not morbid. It is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you love.

Every family we have helped through an estate without a will has said the same thing. Not "I wish there was more money." They say "I wish we had known what she wanted."

That is what a will actually is. It is you, telling them.

Come and have the conversation. We promise it is easier than you are imagining.

www.dvpattorneys.co.za

20/08/2026

If you are a foreign or non resident buyer bringing money into South Africa for a property, this one is for you.

The Reserve Bank updated its Balance of Payments reporting codes, and the new framework went live on 11 August 2026. These are the codes your bank uses to report money coming into the country.

Here is why it matters. The code recorded when your funds arrive affects how smoothly you get those funds out again when you eventually sell.

Nothing has changed about your right to own property here. Foreign buyers can still buy. This is admin, not a restriction.

Get it coded correctly the first time and the rest looks after itself.

www.dvpattorneys.co.za

09/08/2026

Today we are celebrating a little closer to home. DVP is a firm run entirely by women. Women who register your bonds, transfer your homes, sign off your notarial deeds and answer the phone when you are anxious about your offer to purchase.

There is something quietly powerful about a room full of women handling the paperwork that turns a house into a home. We do not take it for granted, and we do not do it alone. To every woman reading this, whether you are buying your first property, running your own business or holding it all together somewhere in between, we see you.

Here is to the women who built the way, and the ones still building.

Visit www.dvpattorneys.co.za

26/07/2026

Your July municipal bill looks different.
Here's why.
Opened your municipal account this month and did a double take?

You're not imagining it.
New municipal tariffs kick in on 1 July every year, and in some metros a brand new general valuation roll landed at the same time.

That means a new value on your property and a new rates calculation built on top of it. Your rates are worked out by multiplying your municipal valuation by the applicable tariff, minus any rebates you qualify for. Worth pulling out the bill and actually reading it this month. If the number surprises you, it's usually the valuation doing the talking, not the tariff. www.dvpattorneys.co.za

20/07/2026

South Africa's eviction rules are up for their biggest proposed overhaul in decades. The PIE Amendment Bill was gazetted for public comment earlier this year, and the comment window was extended again in late June because so many people wanted a say.

What's being proposed:
Clearer guidelines for courts deciding eviction matters.
Tougher penalties aimed at organised land invasions, including a proposed R2 million penalty for inciting unlawful occupation.
A more structured approach to alternative accommodation.
Important bit: this is a Bill, not law. It still has to go back to Cabinet and then to Parliament. Constitutional protections for occupiers stay in place. But if you own a rental property, this one is worth watching.

www.dvpattorneys.co.za

18/07/2026

Long before the world knew him as Madiba, Nelson Mandela was a young attorney in Johannesburg. He opened a practice with Oliver Tambo in 1952. People queued down the corridor and out onto the street.

Most of them were not there for anything dramatic. They came about land they were being pushed off. Papers they did not understand. Doors that kept closing.
That is the part we think about on Mandela Day. Not the statues or the speeches. Just a man behind a desk, listening properly to someone who had nowhere else to go.
It is a good standard to keep in mind. Do the work carefully. Treat the person in front of you like they matter.

Happy Mandela Day from all of us at DVP.

Visit www.dvpattorneys.co.za

27/06/2026

A court just declared Cape Town's property-value-linked municipal tariffs unlawful. The City has accepted the ruling and won't appeal.
This isn't just a Cape Town story. It's a signal to municipalities across South Africa that fixed charges must be legally justifiable, and a reminder to property owners that you have recourse when they aren't.
Swipe through for the full picture.
www.dvpattorneys.co.za

26/06/2026

21/06/2026

Today, we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, mentors, and father figures who provide guidance, support, and strength through every season of life.

Thank you for the example you set, the sacrifices you make, and the legacy you build for future generations.

From all of us at DVP Attorneys, we wish you a Happy Father's Day.