Kholofelo Maruma

Lobola in Contemporary South African Law: Between Trade, Tradition and Legal Certainty

By Kholofelo Maruma Lobola, also referred to as bohadi, magadi or bridewealth, is a customary practice deeply embedded in many African societies. In South Africa, it functions as both a cultural marker and, in many communities, the initial formal step towards marriage under customary law. While historically grounded in symbolism and familial connection, lobola has […]

Lobola in Contemporary South African Law: Between Trade, Tradition and Legal Certainty Read More »

Africa Takes Flight at Aviation Indaba 2025: Driving a Vibrant AND Sustainable Aviation Sector

By Kholofelo Maruma The annual gathering of industry stakeholders, the 2nd Aviation Indaba held at the Maslow Hotel in Sandton on 19 August 2025 was not your usual conference. It was a space where people from different walks of life came together – from royalty, to government officials, to aviation lawyers, to professors and academics,

Africa Takes Flight at Aviation Indaba 2025: Driving a Vibrant AND Sustainable Aviation Sector Read More »

Traditional Leadership, Customary Authority, and the Constitution: A Delicate Balance in South Africa’s Democracy

 By Kholofelo Maruma and Milda Phaahlane Before the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, traditional leadership operated with little to no democratic oversight. Traditional authority was inherited along family lines, typically from father to son or uncle to nephew, and leaders exercised control over land, local justice, and communal life

Traditional Leadership, Customary Authority, and the Constitution: A Delicate Balance in South Africa’s Democracy Read More »

Legal Reflections on The State v Timothy Omotoso, Lusanda Sulani, and Zukiswa Sitho (CC 15/2018)

By Kholofelo Maruma Introduction Like all things in our earthly life, to wit, the best of all times and the worst of all times, litigation must at some point, come to an end. South African courts adjudicate both civil and criminal claims, thus ensuring the smooth operation of the administration of justice for all South

Legal Reflections on The State v Timothy Omotoso, Lusanda Sulani, and Zukiswa Sitho (CC 15/2018) Read More »

Navigating the Skies of Justice: An Analysis of Mandel v South African Civil Aviation Authority (2023)

By Kholofelo Maruma In the case of Mandel v South African Civil Aviation Authority N.N.O. and Others (1467/2023) [2023] ZAECQBHC 33 (6 June 2023), the High Court of South Africa (Eastern Cape Division, Gqeberha) deliberated on the important issues pertaining to the suspension of a private pilot’s license under the Civil Aviation Act 13 of

Navigating the Skies of Justice: An Analysis of Mandel v South African Civil Aviation Authority (2023) Read More »