On 14 February 2013, international athlete Oscar Pistorius was arrested and charged with premeditated murder, a criminal offence classified in South African criminal procedure as a schedule 6 offence. The schedules, classifications contained at the end of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 51 of 1977 (“the Act”), relate to types or classes of criminal offences, … Continue reading Oscar Pistorius update : Bail Conditions
Author: Lee Swales
Attorney and academic.
Contact: leeswales@icloud.com
Oscar Pistorius and unlawful killing
Before we pass judgment, or a crude joke relating to the alleged murder of a South African model, it is probably important to understand that we do not know all the facts. A Pristorius family member recently stated that the alleged crime would not be “knowingly done” by the world-renowned athletics phenomenon and full and … Continue reading Oscar Pistorius and unlawful killing
Navigating compliance: Employee rights and social media policies
As we navigate our way through new media compliance, an issue that is set to continue in its development in 2013 will be the legality and content of corporate social media policies; particularly insofar as employee / employer rights are concerned.In the United States, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is the independent body responsible … Continue reading Navigating compliance: Employee rights and social media policies
Legal Social Media Roundup 2012
If you consider Google trends (screenshot below), it gives one a sense of the enormity of growth in social media over the past decade. The onslaught of technology and a culture of instant communication have forced legal systems to adapt. Nimble and dynamic are not the type of words you would typically associate with the … Continue reading Legal Social Media Roundup 2012
Criminal Liability for Comments on Social Media
In English football, Manchester United playing Manchester City is one of the big games of the year. Fans and football media go into overdrive (as a Liverpool fan, I state this fact with a tinge of jealousy). During the match in December this year, star United defender Rio Ferdianad was struck on the eye with … Continue reading Criminal Liability for Comments on Social Media
WCIT – internet regulation needs input
As discussed recently, a United Nations mandated technology unit (ITU) is in the midst of revising a 24 year old telecommunications treaty during a 12 day conference in Dubai. The delegates who will make these critical decisions, and inform policy going forward, are government regulators from around the world. Although spin doctors will do their … Continue reading WCIT – internet regulation needs input
Political interference in the Media
Yet again, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is facing accusations of political interference. Controversy and political interference is nothing new for the South African state owned broadcaster. In 1997, it emerged during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that the SABC actively promoted the apartheid regime. Since the birth of South Africa’s democracy, the SABC … Continue reading Political interference in the Media
iStuff how-tos (Part two)
This is part two of a how-to with screen shots and brief explanation for changing iTunes store regions, the iStore Match Service and upgrading the recent system software on a iPhone or iPad. Part one is here.Use iStore MatchGreat product. All my content is synched up and available across all of my devices (Mac, iPhone and … Continue reading iStuff how-tos (Part two)
iStore officially launches in South Africa: iStuff how-tos…(part one)
After years in the wilderness, South Africans can finally (without contravening Apple's terms of service) purchase content from Apple’s iStore. The South African version of the digital store officially opened on Tuesday 4 December 2012, along with a further 55 new countries, including the likes of Russia and Turkey. The digital iStore first opened in … Continue reading iStore officially launches in South Africa: iStuff how-tos…(part one)
Secrecy Bill Update
The so called South African Secrecy Bill (Protection of State Information Bill) [pdf file] was accpeted by the South African Parliament’s National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on 29 November 2012, by a margain of 34 to 16, bringing the legislation two steps away from being formally signed into law. The legislation, since it was initially … Continue reading Secrecy Bill Update
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