Ubuntu and your legal rights

International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated worldwide on July 18 every year, but in South Africa the whole of July is Mandela Month.

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What better time to talk about the concept of "ubuntu", which emphasises our interconnectedness and interdependence, and embraces values like fairness, compassion, respect and dignity?

How does ubuntu influence your legal rights? Law firm Meyer, Van Sittert and Kropman explains.

The courts have often considered, and sometimes applied, the principles of ubuntu in a wide variety of legal contexts. The "it's unfair and unjust!" defence pops up regularly (often when discussing whether something is "contrary to public policy") in disputes of all kinds. Asset sales, property sales, leases, neighbours' disputes, evictions, workplace litigation, franchise agreements, criminal sentencing cases, civil claims, defamation claims, trust disputes and so on – the list is endless.