Scorpion Legal Protection

Latest news for ZEP holders in South Africa

If you are currently in South Africa with a Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP), you may be worried about the June 2023 expiry date and what will happen. Scorpion explains what you need to do to remain in SA legally.

Metro police officer fining a motorist in South Africa

3 facts about metro police fines

Scorpion Legal Protection shares three must-know facts about metro police traffic fines.

3 tips for winning at the CCMA

Scorpion's labour legal specialists deal with matters that go to the CCMA on a daily basis. Read our lawyers’ tips for winning your CCMA case as an employee.

Man sitting on the couch with his feet up ignoring messages from boss on cellphone

Can I ignore after-hours work requests?

Can you ignore after-hours work WhatsApps, calls, emails or messages? Scorpion’s Specialist Labour Department lawyers answer.

Man talking to employer in the workplace asking for certificate of service

Certificate of Service Explained

What is a certificate of service, what should be in it and how do you get one – Scorpion explains.

Landlord yelling at non-paying tenant through the window

Previous owners won’t move out

What happens if you buy a bank repossessed house, and the current tenants don’t want to move out? Scorpion explains what to do.

South African man with his liquor licence standing behind the bar

Buying an RDP house

Thinking of buying an RDP house? Scorpion explains what you need to look out for.

Young man holding megaphone striking in protest South Africa

5 things you must know about strikes

Scorpion explains 5 things you should know about strikes in South Africa.

6 Liquor licence types in SA

Are you looking to apply for a liquor licence? Scorpion explains the 6 different types of licences here.

Understand your South African payslip

Your payslip is such an important document! Make sure you understand what’s in it. Scorpion breaks it down for you here.

Can you be forced to use WhatsApp for work?

Can you be forced to use WhatsApp for work? The answer isn’t actually that straightforward. Scorpion explains.

Illustrated minimum wage South African workers

National minimum wage increase

The new national minimum wage has officially come into effect. Scorpion explains what this means, who it applies to and what you can do if your employer won’t pay it.

Man being fired over WhatsApp, looking at his phone

Can you be fired over WhatsApp?

Can you be fired over WhatsApp? Scorpion answers.

Foreign national woman with child on her back

Can foreign national kids born in SA get citizenship?

If you are a foreign national, but your child was born in South Africa, is your child automatically a South African citizen? Scorpion answers.

Man standing outside UIF office to claim for short time

Can I get UIF benefits for short time?

Can you collect unemployment benefits if you get a pay cut on short time? Scorpion answers.

Are loadshedding pay cuts fair?

We all know loadshedding is affecting businesses badly, but can your employer cut your pay because of loadshedding? Scorpion answers.

Domestic workers in South Africa talking about minimum wage

More pay for domestic workers coming?

We could soon see a rise in the national minimum wage for domestic workers. Scorpion explains the proposed increase and goes over what you can do if your employer does not comply.

Suspended from school, what are your child’s rights?

Have you recently been called or notified by your child’s school that your child has been suspended and should not attend classes because they have breached the school’s code of conduct? Scorpion shares why this could be against the law.

School principal telling students about drug testing, search and seizure

Your child’s rights during search, seizure and drug tests at school

Searches, seizures and drug tests can legally be carried out at schools, but your child still has rights. Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Illustrated schoolchild telling mother about his report and school fees

No school fees, no getting your results?

Can schools withhold the results of learners whose parents have been unable to pay school fees? Scorpion Legal Protection answers.

Man with thumbs up showing he has completed the travel checklist

Don’t skip these travel checks!

Going to be travelling this holiday season? Here’s Scorpion Legal Protection’s checklist to avoid legal and safety troubles.

Woman under debt review trying to apply for a loan

What is debt review?

There has always been some confusion about debt review, with many finding themselves being placed under the programme but not fully understanding how it will affect them. Scorpion shares some legal advice about debt review and what it means for you.

Woman sitting at desk checking her credit score online

5 reasons to check your credit report

When last did you check your credit report? Scorpion Legal Protection shares 5 reasons why checking your credit report regularly will allow you to stay in control of your life.

Man reading a text message from debt collector

Beware of claims on prescribed debt

Do you have a debt that you have forgotten about and suddenly you receive calls asking you to pay up? Scorpion explains what the law says and why you may not have to pay that debt.

Non-paying tenant arguing with landlord over rent money

How to get rid of bad tenants

We often talk about tenants’ rights, but landlords get taken advantage of as well, and can be stuck with bad, non-paying tenants who ruin their property. Scorpion explains how you can get rid of a tenant legally, so that you don’t find yourself in trouble with the courts at a later stage.

Woman opening a case of house break-in at the police station

3-step guide to reporting a break-in

About 1.4 million homes were broken into over the last year according to StatsSA. Here’s Scorpion’s quick 3-step guide to reporting a break-in.

Upset man talking to woman, finding out that his employer never paid pension contributions for him

Employer didn’t pay pension contributions

What happens when you realise that you may not be set up for a happy retirement because your employer has been making deductions from your salary but not paying over the contributions to the fund administrators? Scorpion Legal Protection talks about the laws that protect you and how to prevent this.

Man with arms in the air wondering what happens to his pension when he dies

What happens to your pension fund when you die?

What does your family need to know about accessing your pension fund should you die before you retire? Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Worried person in unfair employer or CCMA disciplinary hearing in South Africa

Unfair disciplinaries: 5 situations

When is a disciplinary hearing unfair? Scorpion Legal Protection gives you 5 situations.

3 tips for first-time homebuyers

Buying your first home can be exciting – and costly. This is why Scorpion Legal Protection’s lawyers want to share their legal advice for first-time homebuyers.

Unhappy couple saying they are not going to pay rent if the landlord does not fix the burst geyser

Can I refuse to pay rent?

If your landlord isn’t holding up his end of the rental agreement by maintaining the property, why should you hold up yours by paying rent? Scorpion Legal Protection explains why withholding or refusing to pay rent isn’t the best choice.

Man talking on the phone to his landlord about him not maintaining the rental property

3 things your landlord must repair & pay for

What forms part of a landlord’s maintenance responsibilities? Scorpion Legal Protection gives you 3 things your landlord must pay for when it comes to maintenance and repairs of the rental property.

Man secretly recording a disciplinary hearing

2 facts about recording a disciplinary

Scorpion Legal Protection gives you 2 facts about recording a disciplinary hearing in South Africa.

Parents arguing over visitation rights and child maintenance not being paid in South Africa

No seeing my child if I can’t pay maintenance

If you can’t pay maintenance, can you be prevented from seeing your child? Scorpion Legal Protection answers.

Tenant arguing with landlord over her rental deposit refund as per her rental agreement

6 things your deposit cannot be used for

Ever wondered if your landlord is playing fair with your deposit for a rental property? Scorpion Legal Protection gives you 6 things your rental deposit may not be used for.

Tenant arguing with landlord about landlord's maintenance responsibilities

Landlord won’t fix it, what can I do?

Sethu’s landlord is not fixing the plumbing issues with their toilet, but still insists that he pays the full rent each month. What are the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and responsibilities here? Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Friends talking about whether or not to accept the SARS auto-assessment SMS

Don’t just accept the SARS auto-assessment

You’ve gotten a SARS auto-assessment. It’s tempting to just accept it and move on, but you shouldn’t do this. Scorpion Legal Protection explains why.

Ex-employee laughing because she thinks she got away with stealing company property

Left job, kept laptop – is it stealing?

What happens if you leave your job and don’t give back the company laptop? What if they never ask for it back and you just keep it, is this stealing? Can they call the police on you? Technically, no, here’s why – Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Unmarried couple living together talking about what you get if your partner dies

Living together unmarried, what are your rights?

You’re not married but you’re living together (called cohabitation). What are your legal rights if you separate? Do you have a claim on any monies? Scorpion Legal Protection gives you 3 must-know facts about cohabitation.

Employee on sick leave, blowing his nose in bed

5 things you must know about sick leave

Scorpion Legal Protection gives you 5 things you need to know about sick leave.

Worker injured on duty while at a work training event

Injured outside office, will I be able to claim?

What happens if you get injured while working, but you aren’t at the official work premises? Can you still claim? Scorpion Legal Protection answers a question posted by a follower on their Facebook page.

Man arguing over the phone with his cell phone provider about still getting billed despite cancelling contract

Cell phone contract ends but still getting bills

Have you or someone you know had their cell phone contract end but then still receive bills from the cell phone service provider? Scorpion Legal Protection tells you why that is and what you can do about it.

South African woman wondering what happens if she dies without a will

What happens if you don’t have a will?

If you don’t have a valid will, do you know what will happen to your estate? Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Employer threatening worker to intimidate him into not joining a trade union

Boss says I can’t join trade union

Looking to join a trade union but afraid of what your employer might do? Maybe you’re worried you’ll be discriminated against or that your boss will start treating you badly because of it.

Couple smiling at each other after just signing their marriage contract

Marriage contracts: pros and cons

Looking to get married? Scorpion Legal Protection explains the pros and cons of the different types of marriage contracts.

Employee with no family responsibility leave left to attend a funeral in South Africa talking to her boss over the phone

Funeral long, leave too short: what to do

You take leave for a funeral, but things end up taking longer than you expected and now you need to extend your leave. Can your employer refuse? What if you take it anyway, can they fire you? Scorpion Legal Protection discusses.

Upset employee leaving because his employer fired him with immediate effect

Can you be fired with immediate effect?

Can you be fired “with immediate effect”? Yes and no. Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Employee upset over being unfairly dismissed by his employer

5 times that being dismissed is unfair

Scorpion Legal Protection explains 5 times that being dismissed from your job is unfair and you can take legal action.

Man checking online if he is registered for UIF and if his employer is paying his UIF

Check if you are registered for UIF

Can you check if your employer has registered you for UIF and is paying over the UIF money they deduct from your pay? Yes. Scorpion Legal Protection explains how.

Retail worker asking employer if employees get an employment contract

Must I get an employment contract?

Is there a law that says employers must provide a formal employment contract to their workers? The answer may surprise you. Read Scorpion Legal Protection’s answer here.

Who qualifies for expungement of a criminal record?

Who qualifies for expungement of a criminal record? Scorpion Legal Protection breaks it down here.

Man smiling because he got a police clearance certificate for work

How to get a police clearance certificate

Need to get a police clearance certificate for criminal record, emigration, or travel and employment overseas? Scorpion Legal Protection explains the steps you need to take here.

Metro police officer intimidating driver

5 things officers may not do at a roadblock

It can be easy to feel intimidated at a roadblock. Scorpion breaks down 5 things officers may not do that you should know about.

Unhappy employee leaving the office because he has been retrenched for operational reasons

5 must-know retrenchment facts

Scorpion’s 5 must-know retrenchment facts to keep in mind in this tough economy.

Man stressing because he doesn’t know why his South African citizenship was rejected

Why citizenship can be rejected

What are the reasons why your application for South African citizenship could be rejected? Scorpion Legal Protection answers.

New tenants checking the lease agreement with their estate agent

3 things to check before signing: lease agreement

Your rental application has been accepted and you’re all ready to sign on the dotted line, but before you put your name to that legally-binding lease agreement, take a few minutes to go through Scorpion Legal Protection’s list of things to check before signing.

African man marrying South African woman for citizenship

Marrying for SA citizenship

Does marrying a South African get you South African citizenship? Scorpion Legal Protection answers.

Tenant checking rental agreement for hidden costs

4 hidden costs in your rental agreement

Stop! Before you sign your rental agreement, take 5 minutes to check Scorpion Legal Protection’s list of 4 hidden costs often snuck in.

Man interviewing for new job reading through his employment contract

2 surprises to look out for in your contract

About to sign a new employment contract? Make sure you aren’t surprised by these two things.

Woman interviewing for job, asking questions about her employment contract

3 things to check before signing: employment contract

About to sign a new employment contract? Scorpion Legal Protection says you must check these three things first.

Employee checking his payslip for unlawful deductions

Deductions allowed on your pay

Money missing on your payslip? Scorpion Legal Protection explains what deductions your employer is and isn’t allowed to make.

Man unhappy over deductions his employer made from his pay

Pay deductions without notice

Reginald* says his employer just deducted money from his pay, without him knowing or signing anything! Azikhiphi! Scorpion Legal Protection takes a look at the matter.

Shocked man reading a letter of suspension he received for theft

Is suspension for theft fair?

Apart from yelling at him and humiliating him in front of customers, Reggie’s* boss accused him of theft, and then gave him a letter of suspension. Is this fair? Scorpion Legal Protection explains.

Confused man wondering how to become the legal owner of a property

Becoming legal owner of land/property

How do you become the legal owner of land/property? It’s not just as simple as getting the original ownership documents. Scorpion Legal Protection explains the role of conveyancers and tips for making sure the process runs smoothly.

Sad man with dependent children wondering how to claim provident fund money from his deceased sister’s estate

Claiming provident fund benefits

Julius’s* sister, who was working as a cleaner at the time, died and left behind dependent children. He wants to know if he can claim the money from her provident fund. Scorpion Legal Protection explains how provident fund money is paid out.

Important Information & FAQs

Latest news for ZEP holders in South Africa

3 facts about metro police fines

3 tips for winning at the CCMA

Can I ignore after-hours work requests?

Certificate of Service Explained

Previous owners won’t move out

Buying an RDP house

5 things you must know about strikes

6 Liquor licence types in SA

Understand your South African payslip

Can you be forced to use WhatsApp for work?

National minimum wage increase

Can you be fired over WhatsApp?

Can foreign national kids born in SA get citizenship?

Can I get UIF benefits for short time?

Are loadshedding pay cuts fair?

More pay for domestic workers coming?

Suspended from school, what are your child’s rights?

Your child’s rights during search, seizure and drug tests at school

No school fees, no getting your results?

Don’t skip these travel checks!

What is debt review?

5 reasons to check your credit report

Beware of claims on prescribed debt

How to get rid of bad tenants

3-step guide to reporting a break-in

Employer didn’t pay pension contributions

What happens to your pension fund when you die?

Unfair disciplinaries: 5 situations

3 tips for first-time homebuyers

Can I refuse to pay rent?

3 things your landlord must repair & pay for

2 facts about recording a disciplinary

No seeing my child if I can’t pay maintenance

6 things your deposit cannot be used for

Landlord won’t fix it, what can I do?

Don’t just accept the SARS auto-assessment

Left job, kept laptop – is it stealing?

Living together unmarried, what are your rights?

5 things you must know about sick leave

Injured outside office, will I be able to claim?

Cell phone contract ends but still getting bills

What happens if you don’t have a will?

Boss says I can’t join trade union

Marriage contracts: pros and cons

Funeral long, leave too short: what to do

Can you be fired with immediate effect?

5 times that being dismissed is unfair

Check if you are registered for UIF

Must I get an employment contract?

Who qualifies for expungement of a criminal record?

How to get a police clearance certificate

5 things officers may not do at a roadblock

5 must-know retrenchment facts

Why citizenship can be rejected

3 things to check before signing: lease agreement

Marrying for SA citizenship

4 hidden costs in your rental agreement

2 surprises to look out for in your contract

3 things to check before signing: employment contract

Deductions allowed on your pay

Pay deductions without notice

Is suspension for theft fair?

Becoming legal owner of land/property

Claiming provident fund benefits