Scorpion Legal Protection

Where can I check my credit score?

Donald wants to apply for finance for a car, but before he does this, he wants to know what his credit score is. Scorpion discusses where to find this information.

Dealing with a deceased’s estate

Ellen’s brother passed, and her family was told they needed a ‘letter of authority’ to deal with his estate. She has no idea what this is, or where to get it. Scorpion Legal Protection discusses how estates work.

Ghost promotion: more work, same pay

Patrick says that he works as a general worker and also as an assistant supervisor, but his boss won’t pay him any more than what he pays the other general workers. This doesn’t seem fair… Scorpion discusses what the law says, and what he can do about his situation.

How do I know when it's unpaid leave?

Ornella wants to take leave, but she is new at her company and is not sure if she will be paid while she is on leave, or if these days will come out of her salary. Scorpion discusses how leave works according to SA’s labour laws.

New minimum wage for
contract cleaners

Dorah applied for work as a cleaner, but when her new employer told her she would only be getting R15 per hour, she was a bit upset. She doesn’t know what exactly the minimum wage is for cleaners, but it has to be more than that! Scorpion Legal Protection explains what the minimum wage for cleaners is by law.

No employment contract, now what?

Promise started work as a receptionist for a small company, but after 2 months she still didn’t have an employment contract. Her boss hasn’t said anything, and now she’s not sure if she should ask him or just leave it. Scorpion Legal Protection discusses employment contracts and whose responsibility it is to provide one.

I resigned, can I claim constructive dismissal?

Johannes says that when his boss changed him from a reaction officer to an armed guard, without any discussion or consultation, his working conditions became intolerable. Things were so bad that Johannes felt he had no other choice but to resign. Is this a case of constructive dismissal? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses his options.

Boss won’t let them take a break

Ernest’s boss is a real jerk – he won’t let his employees rest for even 15 minutes of the day because he says he’s paying them to work, not sit around. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! The law is on Ernest’s side. Read more to find out what he can do:

Can recordings be used against you?

Did you know that in certain circumstances an employer can use recordings against you at a disciplinary hearing, even if they were obtained without your consent? Scorpion Legal Protection talks about when and why it’s allowed and what the law says about this.

What does it mean when you get an e-toll summons?

When Steven received a summons for his outstanding e-toll bills, he thought nothing of it, and chucked it in the bin. But he was a little worried, and had some questions. What is a summons and is it legally binding? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses the issue.

Employer refuses to pay out leave

When Nkosazana resigned, she questioned her employer about why he hadn’t paid her out for the leave days she didn’t take. He told her he’s sorry but she should’ve taken the leave days when she had the chance. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! Scorpion discusses why her former employer could get in trouble with the law.

Can you refuse to sign a warning?

Linda* wasn’t aware of her company’s policy when it came to streaming music, so when HR dropped a written warning on her desk for streaming music, she was shocked. She doesn’t want to sign the letter, but she’s not sure what will happen if she refuses. Scorpion discusses how warnings work and what Linda’s options are.

Debt paid up but still on his name

Siyabonga’s employer accused him of stealing, and claims he has CCTV footage of the event. Can CCTV footage be used at the CCMA? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses the laws that apply.

Can CCTV footage be used at hearings?

Siyabonga’s employer accused him of stealing, and claims he has CCTV footage of the event. Can CCTV footage be used at the CCMA? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses the laws that apply.

Forced to take leave when company closes

Mbongeni’s* company closes every year for 10 days over the December holiday period, and every year the staff take their annual leave over this same period. This year, Mbongeni wants to take his annual leave over the Easter holidays, but his employer says he can’t. Can his employer do this? What are Mbongeni’s rights?

Scared to ask for maternity leave?

Ntshadi* knew she was pregnant a week before she went for a job interview. Seven months later at her new job, she tells her employer that she will need to go on maternity leave soon and he freaks out. What if he fires her because she didn’t tell him she was pregnant? Or gets someone else in her place and tells her not to come back? Scorpion discusses why that would be a very bad idea for her boss and how the law protects her.

Watch out for RDP scams

Andile* was struggling to find a place he could afford. He’d heard about a guy who could get you onto the waiting list for an RDP house and then bumped up on that list too. It sounded like a wish come true! But aren’t RDP houses run by the government for the poor? Scorpion discusses how RDP houses work and why these ‘get a house quick’ schemes are illegal.

Company withholds his provident claim forms

Damion left his previous company on bad terms. To ‘get back’ at him, the company refused to give him a copy of the provident fund withdrawal notification form, which means Damion can’t get hold of his provident fund. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! Scorpion Legal Protection discusses what he can do.

Scammed by shady debt counsellor

Amanda’s debt counsellor has been doing shady things like charging her “collection commission” and not responding to her creditors. As a result, one of her creditors came to repossess her car. Now she has to pay to take the taxi to work every day, and she is already struggling with her money! AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! Scorpion Legal Protection discusses what she can do.

Unhappy about SAPS investigation

When Kabelo’s car was stolen, he expected the police to investigate the case as soon as possible. But two months later, it appears that they still haven’t done anything and now he wants to know if there’s anything he can do about it. Scorpion Legal Protection discusses.

Hospital mistreated her: can she sue?

Mama Sihle says she experienced terrible mistreatment 7 years ago at the hands of the hospital where she had her child. The incident has left her traumatised for life, and because of this she wants to know if she can open a case against the hospital. Scorpion Legal Protection discusses.

Circumcision - can you take sick leave?

Sakhumzi* went for circumcision, and was booked off from work for three days after to heal. When he got back to work, his boss said he would not pay him for those three days because it was a “personal problem” and not a medical one – even though he submitted a doctor’s note. Is his employer right?

Boss can’t punish you with short time

Malusi* was called in by his employer for poor work performance. His employer decided that since he was not performing well, he would put him on short time. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! Short time is not something employers can use as a disciplinary measure!

Boss makes life unbearable

When Kopano spoke up against the unfair treatment his boss gave his co-workers, his boss started treating him badly to – to the point where Kopano felt all he could do was resign to get away from him. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! This is called constructive dismissal, and while it can be difficult to prove, it’s not impossible. How do you know if you have a case of unfair dismissal?

Warning for missing one meeting!

Mohamed missed one meeting and got a written warning from his employer. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! Employers can’t just dish out warnings without following procedure. Find out more about warnings in the workplace, when they’re fair and what to do if you don’t agree with a warning.

Employer making unexplained salary deductions

Ayanda’s employer is deducting things from her salary, but these deductions aren’t on her payslip, and she thinks he might be taking money from her unnecessarily. When she asks him, he tells her to “stop being clever” and the deductions continue to go off every month. Can he do this? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses the law when it comes to salary deductions.

Brother is hiding father’s will

When Mr Mqhamzana* passed away, he left a will detailing how his assets were to be distributed among his children. Nomvula’s* brother is in possession of the will, but refuses to show it to her or provide her with it so that she can claim what her father left to her. What can she do? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses estates and what you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Fired for being sick!

Nkibelo* is a salesperson at a big company. Lately, he hasn’t been feeling too well. He’s been working extra hard to make his targets, and then one day while he was visiting a client, he fainted. They took him to hospital, and he was diagnosed with extremely low blood pressure. The doctor booked him off work for a week to recover, but on day three, Nkibelo’s boss called him to tell him he’s fired.

Employer is still not paying up

When Daniel won his case at the CCMA, he was relieved. Finally he would get paid out. The court ordered his employer to pay him out R18 900, but it’s months later and it seems like his former employer is just ignoring the court order! How can he force his employer to pay up? Scorpion Legal Protection answers this question.

Can Mpho claim UIF illness benefits for diabetes?

Mpho didn’t know she had diabetes, and became very ill. She had no more sick leave left, so when she had to take off work for health problems, her employer did not pay her a salary. She wants to claim from UIF, but her boss told her that it’s only for ‘serious’ diseases like cancer or AIDS. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not true. Scorpion Legal Protection discusses how to claim UIF illness benefits.

How does family responsibility leave work?

Mary wanted to take family responsibility leave to grieve the passing of a family member, but her employer refused to approve it until he knew which family member it was for. Mary didn’t understand why this was necessary, family is family and this is her family responsibility leave to use or not use. Scorpion Legal Protection discusses family responsibility leave, how it works and why her boss would ask her about it.

Can my boss force me to work on Christmas?

Mpitse’s* boss says he has to work on Christmas, but he’s already made plans with his family. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! When can employers force you to work, and how does annual leave work when it comes to the holiday season?

Store refuses to fix faulty goods

Tito was so excited when he bought his family a new home theatre system for the holidays. But just two weeks later, his speakers were no longer working. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on! He paid good, hard-earned cash for his goods from a reputable store; they must take responsibility and fix it! What legal recourse does Tito have?

Fired for car accident

When Thulani had a car accident in the company car, his boss fired him on the spot and didn’t pay him his salary. A car accident is serious, but surely an employer can’t just fire an employee? Scorpion Legal Protection answers this question.

Car dealer scams on car extras

When Prince bought a bakkie, he agreed on a price with the second-hand car dealership. But when he went to fetch his car, the dealers said he needed to pay separately for extras on the car – but they were already part of the car!

Stuck with her family’s debt

When Lungi’s aunt asked her to buy a few things for her on Lungi’s store account, she didn’t think twice – umdeni wakho awukhethi. But her aunt has failed to make payment on the debt, and now the debt collectors are after Lungi! What can she do?

Dismissed over the phone

Sentso’s boss called him one day out of the blue to tell him the company was having financial difficulties, and he should not report to work until further notice. AZIKHIPHI! That’s not on!

When debt collectors don’t stop

Pearl loves shopping, but got into trouble when she failed to pay her accounts. She owed R1 500. Debt collectors have been debiting money from her account for this debt since 2005 – which means she has paid back far more than what she owed.

Driver refuses to pay for damages

Ayanda* was worried when she was involved in a car accident recently. Luckily no one got hurt, but her car was damaged. The accident wasn’t her fault – the other driver didn’t brake in time and rode into the back of her car. He admitted the accident was his fault, and said he would pay to have Ayanda’s car fixed.

Unilateral changes not allowed

Employers are not allowed to change material terms of your employment contract without talking to you, the employee, about it first. By carrying out unilateral (one-sided) changes, it’s as if your employer has replaced your existing contract with a new one without your knowledge – and that is not allowed. #StaySmart

Rules for salary deductions

Section 34 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act says that deductions for damage or loss caused by a worker may only be made if:

Minimum leave according to law

According to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the minimum amount of leave an employer must give workers is 15 working days for every year, or 1.25 days for every month you have worked. #StaySmart

Don't talk on your phone while driving!

Be careful - even if you’re not talking on the phone or messaging while driving, you could still be fined. The National Road Traffic Act expressly prohibits the use of a cellphone and further states that it is illegal to even hold one while driving. #StaySmart

Don't be fooled by dishonest car sales people

Voetstoots doesn't mean dishonest sellers can just get away with selling defective goods – the Consumer Protection Act is there to protect buyers. The law allows for buyers to cancel the contract or sue the seller for a lower selling price if:

Don't give out your tax number

SARS won't give your tax number to anyone other than you, the registered taxpayer, unless the person is your tax practitioner or has Power of Attorney (POA) to conduct your tax affairs. This is to ensure your personal information is kept safe. #StaySmart

Insist on your IRP5 from your employer

Insist that your employer provides you with your IRP5 so you can compare this to the one submitted to SARS. Your IRP5 describes your employment income and deductions as well as the PAYE tax already paid. Employers have 2 months from May to submit these to SARS and should begin giving them to employees at the beginning of June. If you don’t have it by July, you have a right to demand it. #StaySmart

Beware of scams and phishing using the SARS brand

Beware of scams and phishing. There is a steady increase in email scams and phishing attacks using the SARS brand. Members of the public are randomly emailed with false “spoofed” emails made to look as if these emails were sent from SARS but are in fact fraudulent emails aimed at luring unsuspecting taxpayers to disclose information such as bank account details.

New house broken, agents say nothing

When Ruth bought a flat, she expected the place to look the way it did when she first went to view it. But when she got there to move in, someone had broken the door handle off and removed things, leaving the flat in a terrible condition. Legally the house belongs to her now and is her responsibility, but shouldn’t the agents have kept the property safe? Scorpion explains what the law says on situations like these and what you can do.

Second wife tries to evict the children

When Mpondo’s father passed on, his father’s second wife threatened to evict them from his RDP house if they didn’t move out. She said it belonged to her, and they needed to get out or else… Can she do this? Scorpion explains what you can do in this kind of situation.

No criminal record but still fired

Even though his criminal record was cleared, Jayden’s boss fired him when he found out that he had a criminal record. Can he do this? Scorpion explains the law on clearing your criminal record and what you can do if you find yourself in this kind of situation.

Insurers tampered with my car

Xolani* was involved in an accident, and had to have his car repaired. Fortunately, he had insurance, so he wasn’t worried. His insurer asked him to send copies of his vehicle documents, which he did. A few days later, they sent someone out to collect the vehicle for an assessment. They kept the vehicle for a week. When Xolani got his car back, he noticed that things were very wrong...

CCMA win, still no payout

TK* and his friend Oarebile* recently got a CCMA award in their favour for a case they lodged against their employer. They had been working at the company on a three-year contract when the company decided to terminate their contracts. They were not given notice of termination. The CCMA found the company guilty and an award was given in their favour, but the company refuses to pay them. What now?!

Careful of pawn transations

Masego* and her husband desperately needed cash to get through the month, and decided to loan money from a pawn shop. They borrowed R20 000, which they had to pay back with R6 000 interest. The interest was to be paid in full by 14 August 2018. If they could not pay back the money by the agreed time, the pawn shop could sell their car.

Sold a bum house!

Tshepo* has been looking for a house for her family, so when she found out about an auction and that there would be houses for sale for a very good price, she decided to buy. But when she arrived with all her stuff, ready to move in, she found another family already living there. What now?!

Fired for being pregnant!

Theola has been working as a receptionist for a small company for a couple of years. When she fell pregnant recently, she thought her boss and colleagues would be happy for her. But when she told her boss the news, he got mad and said he couldn’t have a big, fat pregnant woman receiving their customers.

Landlord locked them out illegally!

Phil and Eunice had been renting a small flat for a couple of years. Usually they had no problems paying the rent, and made sure things were always handled on time. But last month, Phil was retrenched unexpectedly, and the couple had financial problems – without Phil’s salary they could barely afford food for the month, they knew they couldn’t afford to pay the rent.

Brother won’t share inheritance

*Nokubonga’s father passed away in 2015, leaving behind his two wives and their children (one child from his first wife, and Nokubonga and her brother from his second wife). When they tried to sort out their father’s estate, Nokubonga’s father’s first wife said she would handle matters on her own, she didn’t want them involved. They never saw a cent of their father’s estate.

Applying for a social grant is free

Applying for a social grant is free, don't ever be scammed into paying for it! SASSA will give you a receipt when you apply. You must keep this receipt as proof of the date you applied for the grant, especially for grants where the payments are backdated. #StaySmart

You have a right to social grant

A social grant is financial help from the government. This is for people with low or no income, who can’t work due to injury or disability, or with children. #StaySmart know what kind of grants South Africa offers:

Verbal contracts are not safe

Akira had an interview with a potential employer. They discussed many things, including the salary she would get. Her new employer called to tell her she had gotten the job, and asked her to start the following Monday – they would give her an employment contract to sign then.

Fired without a hearing

Elton works as a cashier at the local butchery. He’s never had any warnings or gotten into trouble at work. One morning, his boss stormed in yelling that someone had stolen some of the store’s meat. The next day, Elton was told that he had been fired.

Look after your children

If a child does not receive the necessary care and protection from their parents or guardians such as basic nutrition, care, shelter, or healthcare, it is considered neglect.

Your customary marriage is recognised by law

The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (RCMA) 120 of 1998 legally recognises customary marriages as valid and legal.

Register your customary marriage

If you get married under customary law, the marriage is considered valid and legal in terms of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act (RCMA).

Don't discriminate!

According to the Constitution, we must look at when customary law should be used to make sure that the application thereof is not discriminatory.

Wrongful arrest for peeing

If you are wrongfully arrested for peeing in public, you may have a civil claim against the Minister of Police.

Your rights with police searches

Section 29 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 51 of 1977, states that you can only be searched by an officer who is of the same gender as you.

Public drinking is illegal

If you are caught drunk in, on, or near any road, street, lane, thoroughfare, square, park or market or any other public place.

Returning unwanted gifts

If you want to return an unwanted gift to the store, you need to ensure that your return is in line with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

Receiving expensive gifts from clients

Receiving gifts from clients or suppliers is part of working with other people. To cover their employees and themselves, companies must adopt a policy on gifts.

Store return policies

Before you return an unwanted gift, you need to find out what the store policy is. Check if they want the product in its original packaging, if they require proof of purchase and if they accept money-back returns or only exchanges.

Your rights to a fair trial

If you are accused of a crime, whether you are guilty or not, you have the right to a fair trial. That's the law.

Present your case in any South African language

You can present your case in any of the 11 official South African languages at the Small Claims Court. #StaySmart know your rights!

Cases handled by the Magistrate's Court

If you have a civil matter, such as a dispute over a municipality bill, your case will be heard in the Magistrate's Court.

Understanding warrants of execution

A warrant of execution against immovable property is usually the last resort. It is a long and complicated process.

Defend yourself against a summons

You have the right to defend yourself if you get a summons. If you have a good reason or defence, you should get paralegal advice so that you can protect your rights.

Understand your cellphone insurance policy

Make sure that when you get cellphone insurance, you know and understand the policy, you're aware of what they don't cover and what documents they will need if you need to claim. #StaySmart

What to do after a car accident

If you are ever in a car accident, the following tips can help you figure out what to do. #StaySmart

Why your life insurance claim was rejected

There are a number of reasons why your life insurance provider can reject a claim.

RDP houses – don't get scammed!

You can't buy a brand-new RDP house or get 'bumped up' the waiting list by paying a fee. They are given to people who qualify for them as part of a government initiative.

Paid more just for being a man!

After working hard to become senior management in her company, Dikeledi found out that a male colleague (her junior) was earning the same salary as her - for less work and experience. Dikeledi has a Master’s degree and has been working in the industry for more than 10 years. Her colleague only has a Bachelor’s degree and has been in the industry for less than 2 years.

Landlord refuses to fix leak

Zenobi moved in to a flat she was renting, and shortly after discovered that the roof was leaking every time it rained. She called her landlord and told him about the problem, as she was worried the leaking water might damage her furniture eventually. The landlord promised to come fix it, but he never did. Zenobi tried calling him and scheduling meetings at his office, but he was avoiding her.

Boss tried to fire him for taking leave!*

Thato works for a construction company. He is a hard worker – never late for work, always doing more than what is expected of him. So when he applied for leave to go to his mother’s funeral, he didn’t think it would be a problem. His 5 days of leave were approved and he thought everything was fine.

Car shop tries to scam him!

Mr Botsime* took his Golf 6 GTi in for repairs at a reputable workshop. The manager told him he would have to pay R14 000 for labour, as well as pay for the parts needed to fix the car. Eish. What could he do, he needed to have his car fixed.

Cheated out of her inheritance

Ntombi’s* father passed away in 1996. She lived in her father’s house with her father, her stepmother and the stepmother’s child. When her father died without a will, her stepmother kicked her out of the house. Later, when her stepmother fell ill, one of her grandchildren asked Ntombi to move back into the house and help look after her.

Important Information & FAQs

Stay Smart

Where can I check my credit score?

Dealing with a deceased’s estate

Ghost promotion: more work, same pay

How do I know when it's unpaid leave?

New minimum wage for contract cleaners

No employment contract, now what?

I resigned, can I claim constructive dismissal?

Boss won’t let them take a break

Can recordings be used against you?

What does it mean when you get an e-toll summons?

Employer refuses to pay out leave

Can you refuse to sign a warning?

Debt paid up but still on his name

Can CCTV footage be used at hearings?

Forced to take leave when company closes

Scared to ask for maternity leave?

Watch out for RDP scams

Company withholds his provident claim forms

Scammed by shady debt counsellor

Unhappy about SAPS investigation

Hospital mistreated her: can she sue?

Circumcision - can you take sick leave?

Boss can’t punish you with short time

Boss makes life unbearable

Warning for missing one meeting!

Employer making unexplained salary deductions

Brother is hiding father’s will

Fired for being sick!

Employer is still not paying up

Can Mpho claim UIF illness benefits for diabetes?

How does family responsibility leave work?

Can my boss force me to work on Christmas?

Store refuses to fix faulty goods

Fired for car accident

Car dealer scams on car extras

Stuck with her family’s debt

Dismissed over the phone

When debt collectors don’t stop

Driver refuses to pay for damages

Unilateral changes not allowed

Rules for salary deductions

Minimum leave according to law

Don't talk on your phone while driving!

Don't be fooled by dishonest car sales people

Don't give out your tax number

Insist on your IRP5 from your employer

Beware of scams and phishing using the SARS brand

New house broken, agents say nothing

Second wife tries to evict the children

No criminal record but still fired

Insurers tampered with my car

CCMA win, still no payout

Careful of pawn transations

Sold a bum house!

Fired for being pregnant!

Landlord locked them out illegally!

Brother won’t share inheritance

Applying for a social grant is free

You have a right to social grant

Verbal contracts are not safe

Fired without a hearing

Look after your children

Your customary marriage is recognised by law

Register your customary marriage

Don't discriminate!

Wrongful arrest for peeing

Your rights with police searches

Public drinking is illegal

Returning unwanted gifts

Receiving expensive gifts from clients

Store return policies

Your rights to a fair trial

Present your case in any South African language

Cases handled by the Magistrate's Court

Understanding warrants of execution

Defend yourself against a summons

Understand your cellphone insurance policy

What to do after a car accident

New minimum wage for
contract cleaners