Bongani Bingwa speaks with Ulrich Roux, Legal Expert and Founder of Ulrich Roux & Associates, about the possible legal avenues available to Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema as he awaits sentencing today. This follows his conviction on multiple counts under the Firearms Control Act, linked to the 2018 rally where he discharged a rifle in a packed stadium.

Legal analyst Ulrich Roux says Julius Malema remains eligible to be a Member of Parliament until all his appeal processes are exhausted.

Contracts are meant to create certainty. Yet in practice, most commercial disputes arise precisely because one party believes the other has not honoured what was agreed. Whether it is a commercial agreement, a lease, a service contract, or a settlement agreement, most disputes that reach our courts have one thing in common: an alleged breach of contract. At Ulrich Roux & Associates, we are often consulted only once a dispute has escalated. By that stage, positions have harden

Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Julius Malema is expected to appear at the East London Magistrate's Court in KuGompo today for pre-sentencing proceedings in his firearms discharge case. Malema was convicted in October last year on charges linked to the discharge of a firearm during the party's fifth anniversary rally in Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape in 2018. His former bodyguard, Adriaan Snyman, was acquitted. Pre-sentencing proceedings, which began earlier this year, were p

In relation to the ongoing bail application that has been heard in Pretoria today brought by Sgt Fannie Nkosi, the police officer arrested after a raid at his home and one of the people implicated in the Madlanga Commission. To help the public make sense of the legal stakes, Managing Director, Ulrich Roux talks to SABC News.

Most people only think about firearm laws when something goes wrong. By then, it is often too late. Imagine this: You keep a licensed firearm at home for protection. One day, a friend asks to “borrow it quickly.” Or you store it temporarily somewhere else. Or you carry it in your car without thinking twice. Later that same day, you are stopped and questions are asked. Suddenly, what you thought was normal becomes a criminal offence. This happens to ordinary, responsible f

Many buyers are surprised by the additional costs that arise during a property transaction. Understanding these costs upfront is essential for effective financial planning and ensures a smooth process from offer to transfer. This guide provides a clear overview of the typical costs associated with purchasing property in South Africa. Transfer Duty and VAT Transfer duty is a tax payable to SARS on property purchases above a certain threshold. For the 2025/2026 tax year, proper

Our Managing Director, Ulrich Roux says President Cyril Ramaphosa has the authority to place the national police commissioner Fannie Masemola under suspension, but that there is no legal act that states that he needs to suspend him. The president is still consulting over the SAPS crisis. #eNCA #DStv403 #TeamURA

Drug-related offences remain a serious concern in South Africa and are strictly regulated by legislation. Many individuals are uncertain about what the law actually says regarding the use, possession, or distribution of drugs, particularly in light of recent Constitutional Court decisions involving cannabis. This article explains the legal framework governing drug offences in South Africa, the difference between possession and dealing, and the potential legal consequences ind

Cohabitation is the act of living together as partners without entering into a formal marriage. The concept and practice of cohabitation has become increasingly prevalent in modern society. Cohabitation is however not recognised as a legal relationship in South African law. In reality, partners that live together do not have the same legal rights as married couples. One legal instrument that provides clarity and protection for such partnerships is what we call a Notarial Coha

Recent jurisprudence from the Constitutional Court has added welcomed clarity to the often confusing intersection between customary law, civil marriages and matrimonial property regimes. In VVC v JRM and Others , the Court was asked to confirm a High Court order declaring section 10(2) of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 (“ RCMA ”) unconstitutional. While the Constitutional Court declined to confirm that order, its judgment has far reaching consequences

In July 2014, in Philadelphia, a poetry collective, “ Get Lit ” performed at Brave New Voices. In one of their poems, the following line was delivered: “ Consent is sexy [no]…consent is a basic human right .” The statement captures a principle that lies at the heart of our constitutional government. Consent is a cornerstone of dignity, privacy and bodily autonomy. In the current robust digital age, it is easy to see how frequently consent can be misunderstood or deliberately

This follow up article picks up where the first article ended: not at the roadside, but after the arrest, when the immediate panic turns into a practical question, “Can they get bail?” . In South Africa, bail is not a “fee for freedom” and it is not automatic. The Constitution protects the right to be released from detention if the interests of justice permit, subject to reasonable conditions, and it also sets strict rules for how quickly an arrested person must be brought b

Insolvency law occupies a delicate space within South Africa’s legal system, requiring a careful balancing of competing interests. On the one hand, it seeks to protect creditors by preventing debtors from shielding assets from lawful claims. On the other, it must respect constitutional values such as property rights, dignity, equality and fairness. Nowhere is this tension more pronounced than in the operation of section 21 of the Insolvency Act 24 of 1936 , which temporarily

Most people only think about their rights when blue lights appear in their rear-view mirror. By then it often feels (and may be) too late. Imagine being pulled over on your way home, asked to open your boot, and suddenly told you are under arrest, even though you have not been violent, you are not drunk or you were not caught committing any obvious crime. This happens to ordinary, law-abiding people every day. South African law sets clear limits on when the police may arr

Former President, Jacob Zuma, and arms manufacturer, Thales have suffered a legal setback. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has dismissed their bid to have charges dropped, in the long-running multi-billion rand Arms Deal corruption matter. Legal Analyst, Ulrich Roux unpacks these developments.

The school transport tragedy in Vanderbijlpark has sparked a debate as to who should be held accountable for the deaths of the pupils. The article analyses whether extreme negligence in fatal motor vehicle accidents can justify murder charges, focusing on the aspects of intention ( dolus eventualis ) versus negligence in South African law. On Monday, 19 January 2026, 14 (fourteen) school children tragically lost their lives when their minibus taxi collided with a truck in Van

In litigation, some of the most damaging risks are often the least visible. Prescription is one such risk. It does not announce itself, it does not depend on the strength of a case, and it does not yield to fairness or good intentions. Once a claim has prescribed, it is legally unenforceable, regardless of how compelling the facts may be. For attorneys, prescription is a threshold issue. For clients, it is often the reason a matter never reaches court at all. This article

Economic pressures both locally and internationally have led many South Africans to seek more rewarding opportunities for their labour, or to relocate abroad entirely. While this may involve a new start for some, the South African Revenue Service (“ SARS ”) may still levy taxes on certain individuals. Residence and Source of Income The point of departure is the definition of ‘gross income’ in section 1 of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962. For any year of assessment, a South Af

A growing number of South Africans utilise their annual discretionary foreign investment allowance to acquire assets in foreign jurisdictions and/or to invest offshore. If you hold assets (offshore unit trust investments, investment properties, offshore bank accounts, shares etc) overseas or invest offshore the question one is typically faced with is whether one needs to have a separate Will to administer their offshore assets effectively. To determine whether an offshore Wi