scholarly journals Alternative dispute resolution in the South African pension funds industry: An Ombudsman or a Tribunal?

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37
Author(s):  
John Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
South African ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Pension Funds ◽  
The South

Integrating Alternative Dispute Resolution into South African Criminal Jurisprudence: An Urgent Need for Law Reforms

Politeia ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prince Pius Imiera
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
South African ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Justice System ◽  
The South ◽  
Research Problems ◽  
Criminal Jurisprudence

This article argues for the inclusion of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) into the criminal justice administration of South Africa, which will ultimately result in the comprehensive legal transformation of the country’s justice system. Non-traditional dispute resolution processes, which fall within the context of ADR, are globally accepted and have been implemented in different dispute contestations. The argument whether ADR should be applied in a criminal justice context, poses normative questions concerning the function of the justice system, and sociological questions concerning the nature of criminals and crimes. Crime rates in South Africa are high and the criminal justice system may be unable to cope with the floodgates of formal litigation. In this context the article argues for the integration of ADR into the South African criminal justice system. Two major research problems are addressed through reviewing existing literature and doing desktop research. The first aspect concerns the integration of ADR into the South African criminal justice system with a view to effecting law reforms. Second, the question regarding the roles of traditional rulers in resolving criminal disputes is explored. The conclusions reached relate to the need for law reformation in South Africa, particularly in respect of the integration of ADR into criminal jurisprudence, in order to become aligned with other jurisdictions the world over.

PARAMETERS OF CONFIDENTIALITY IN CHILD PROTECTION ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 290-305
Author(s):  
Carmel R Matthias
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
South African ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
The Other ◽  
Crucial Aspect ◽  
The South ◽  
Other Hand

It has been internationally recognised that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is effective in many child protection cases. In the South African Children’s Act, four ADR methods are applicable to child protection. It will be shown that a major weakness in the ADR framework in the Act is a failure to provide appropriate coverage on the crucial aspect of confidentiality. This article explores the tensions around confidentiality in ADR processes for both professional and family participants. Where participants fear that what they divulge during ADR is not confidential, they may be inhibited from being constructively involved. This can defeat the purpose of ADR. On the other hand, in child protection ADR a correct balance needs to be struck so that information essential for the further resolution of the case or for protecting persons from danger is communicated. How best to enable effective child protection ADR by creating an appropriate confidentiality framework is discussed in this article.

Extending Death Benefits to Cohabitants under Section 37C of the South African Pension Funds Act: Hlathi v University of Fort Hare Retirement Fund

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-306
Author(s):  
Ntombizozuko Dyani
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Legal Protection ◽  
Pension Funds ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
The South ◽  
Retirement Fund ◽  
University Of Fort Hare

AbstractCohabitation is left largely unregulated in South Africa, which means that many cohabitants are left destitute or financially worse off when their cohabiting partners die. The Pension Funds Act 24 of 1956, in particular section 37C, is one of the few pieces of legislation that afford legal protection to cohabitants who are left financially worse off due to the death of their partners. However, three previous pension funds adjudicators gave different views as to how to interpret this provision. This note seeks to compare three decisions by three different adjudicators and concludes that the latest decision in Hlathi is the most preferred, because it interprets section 37C progressively, taking into account the spirit, purport and objects of the Bill of Rights.

Judicial Answer to the Application of a Market Level Adjuster and the Broad Construction of a Complaint under the South African Pension Funds Act

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-328
Author(s):  
Mtendeweka Mhango
Keyword(s):  
Supreme Court ◽  
South African ◽  
Pension Fund ◽  
Pension Funds ◽  
Recent Case ◽  
The South ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
Court Of Appeal

AbstractThe jurisdiction of the Adjudicator is one of the most litigated and academically debated subjects in modern South African pension law. This note adds to the debate by discussing a recent case decided by the Supreme Court of Appeal in Mungal. In this case, the court construed the Adjudicator's jurisdiction broadly and, in the process, made some important pronouncements which warrant academic commentary. This article argues that Mungal should be welcomed because it clarified that the Adjudicator has jurisdiction to determine disputes against insurers of underwritten pension fund organizations. The author maintains that, by construing the Adjudicator's jurisdiction broadly, the court empowered the Adjudicator to achieve its mandate of disposing of complaints in a procedurally fair, economical and expeditious manner, and to extend services to lay complainants.

scholarly journals REFORMING THE SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL SECURITY ADJUDICATION SYSTEM: INNOVATIVE EXPERIENCES FROM SOUTH AFRICAN NON-SOCIAL SECURITY JURISDICTIONS

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mathias Ashu Tako Nyenti
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
South African ◽  
Access To Justice ◽  
Constitutional Rights ◽  
The South ◽  
Labour Relations ◽  
Resolution System ◽  
Dispute Resolution System ◽  
Limited Scope

There is currently no uniform social security dispute resolution system in South Africa due to the piecemeal fashion in which schemes were established or protection against individual risks regulated. The result is that each statute provides for its own dispute resolution institution(s) and processes. There are also various gaps and challenges in the current social security dispute resolution systems, some of these relating to the uncoordinated and fragmented nature of the system; inaccessibility of some social security institutions; inappropriateness of some current appeal institutions; the lack of a systematic approach in establishing appeal institutions; a limited scope of jurisdiction and powers of adjudication institutions; inconsistencies in review and/or appeal provisions in various laws; an unavailability of alternative dispute resolution procedures; and an absence of institutional independence of adjudication institutions or forums. The system is therefore in need of reform. In developing an appropriate system, much can be learned from innovative experiences in comparative South African non-social security jurisdictions on the establishment of effective and efficient dispute resolution frameworks. Dispute resolution systems in the labour relations, business competition regulation and consumer protection jurisdictions have been established to realise the constitutional rights of their users (especially the rights of access to justice, to a fair trial and to just administrative action). They thus provide a benchmark for the development of the South African social security dispute resolution system.

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