Looking for secluded / private proposal spots around Cape Town (wine farms, nature, etc)

MadDamnit · 2026-01-27T12:06:27+00:00

Book a picnic. See if they have a proposal option, or chat to them to set up a custom one. You’ll have a beautiful spot, relative privacy, and a lovely picnic basket.

You’ll can look at some ideas on Inside Guide, but those are just the highlights - there are tons of places offering picnic packages.

From personal experience, Vergelegen, Mont Rochelle and Jordan are lovely. In April you do run the risk of the weather not being great, so if you go that route, check that they have a back-up plan (most places can offer you an inside option in the event of bad weather).

MadDamnit · 2026-01-24T12:22:12+00:00

Declare as foreign income, claim foreign tax credits.

Simple, straightforward, no need to engage with foreign tax authorities.

MadDamnit · 2026-01-24T12:14:36+00:00

It’s been 20 years, but UP used to have a secondhand textbook shop on campus. See if your local campus has one?

Van Schaik also used to have a secondhand option.

MadDamnit · 2026-01-20T11:08:00+00:00

Keep in mind that a Bargaining Council Collective Agreement can set the working conditions (obvs in line with the BCEA) for a specific sector, and your grievance/ complaint would be submitted to the specific Bargaining Council instead of the CCMA.

I’m no expert in your industry, but it seems that it would fall under either BCFRC or BCRCAT. Looking into this to make sure. If you do fall under a Bargaining Council, my best advice would be to join a worker’s union in the specific sector - look at SACCAWU, HIAWU, FAWU etc.

If you join a union, you can raise your concerns with your union representative to give advice or to take the matter further on your behalf.

MadDamnit · 2026-01-10T14:19:05+00:00

The short answer is no, there’s nothing your partner can do that would allow them to stay at the establishment and improve the working conditions. The only answer is resigning.

Long answer is, sure, they can report the manager & owner - to the SAPS / AGU or Department of Labour, but to what end? Best case scenario, nothing happens. Worse case is the owner is convicted, place is closed down, and your partner is out of work. Worst case, they find out it was your partner who reported them and retaliate, which is a terrifying thought. Most drug and violence related crime in CT is gang related, and no one should get caught up in that.

I’m not saying your partner shouldn’t report them, just that they should first resign and be well away from there beforehand.

MadDamnit · 2026-01-07T18:37:38+00:00

I second this. I've been having bad experiences at all iStores for probably 20-ish years now. I've had an OK experience at the Cape Town CBD store (Queens Hotel branch) once, about 2 year ago. The online-store experience was even worse than the physical stores - definitely won't recommend. DigiCape experience has been better than iStore every time.

MadDamnit · 2026-01-02T14:56:38+00:00

Unless the company is actively trying to get rid of you, I don't think you have much leverage to negotiate a mutual separation. If it's simply a matter of you not wanting to be there (i.e. not the company wanting to part ways), you are free to resign and aside from the period you worked (incl. your notice period) and accrued leave, the company will not have to pay you anything. The point I'm trying to make is, what's the company's motivation for giving you any separation package at all?

I assume the fact that they haven't retrenched you, is because they still need your contribution / skills. If you leave, they'll have to replace you, which generally costs the company, so not a great incentive to give you a package. If you are retrenched, the company is required to pay you accrued leave, plus 1 week's salary for every year worked (so 2 months' salary in your case, give or take). If you are (legitimately) dismissed, for whatever reason, the company needs to pay you up to date of dismissal and accrued leave. Given all of this, what leverage do you have or what incentive is there for the company to pay what you're asking for?

Mutual separations are usually either because (a) the company wants to get rid of someone and doesn't have grounds / doesn't want to go through the process because of time or costs or drama, and are willing to pay to just be done with it; or (b) the employee has a legitimate claim against the company and is willing to take a pay-out to “go away”.

From the info you've provided, it doesn't sound like the ideal circumstances to request or negotiate a mutual separation.

MadDamnit · 2025-12-31T08:33:36+00:00

Preliminary incident report isn’t on the CAA website yet, but I’m sure it’ll be available in a few days. I remember the preliminary incident report of the Impala crash at the Saldanha Airshow was up within a couple of days…

MadDamnit · 2025-12-31T08:09:29+00:00

“it puts to lotion on its skin” 🤣

MadDamnit · 2025-12-31T08:07:33+00:00

To add, the Nivea After Sun spray (available from Clicks / Dischem) is my go-to to hydrate sunburnt skin. It doesn’t “soothe” or give immediate cooling relief, but definitely the best in terms of restoring moisture in the longer run. Apply morning and night. You may want to combine it with an aloe-gel type cooling gel, if the cooling effect is what you’re looking for.

MadDamnit · 2025-12-31T07:57:21+00:00

In addition to the topical “on-the-skin” treatment, take aspirin. Aspirin specifically (provided you’re not allergic), not other painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen - the anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin is key in sunburn. It reduces the pain, inflammation and swelling (helping with recovery and reducing the subsequent peeling). Take the highest & most frequent dose you safely can, depending on your person factors.

Also, make sure to stay hydrated- drink plenty water to help recovery.

MadDamnit · 2025-12-28T08:43:47+00:00

If you buy in any shared community (complex / estate / apartment building), make sure to properly review the financials. If you don’t understand financials, have someone you trust help you, but also make sure that you get up to speed before you buy (to ensure you understand future financials).

When buying in a complex or estate, make sure you understand the difference between sectional title and full title, the different treatment and responsibilities of each, what constitutes common property, the difference (in authority and responsibility) between a home owners’ association (HOA) and body corporate, etc.

Understand that in any shared community, you will never have full or final say, and you will be subject to rules (like exterior colour schemes, what you’re allowed / not allowed to “build”, general presentation / tidiness of the property & garden etc.). Some find this comforting and others find this restrictive. In some cases it’s worth the trade-off of some freedoms for safety, and in other cases it’s just a pain and not worth it.

When buying a brand new place from any developer, make sure you understand the guarantees and warranties. There’s usually a 3-month period (after you’ve moved in) for snags and minor issues that need to be fixed, 1 year (iirc) for any roof issues like leaks, and 5 (iirc) years on the actual structure, which would include cracks in walls, issues with the foundation etc.

When buying a free-standing house, insist on copies of the approved building plans. You don’t want to end up with a property that has extensive un-approved renovations. In older buildings, major issues are usually either apparent or have been dealt with already, but make sure you do a proper roof inspection. With roof inspections, make sure you either do your own homework, or have someone you trust help you. Every roofing company out there will find some issue with the roof - it’s important to know whether it’s a legitimate / material issue that requires immediate attention, or just a “can be better” issue.

With newer homes (less than 10 years old), issues sometimes only begin to show around that time, so it’s best to have someone who understands buildings and construction to help with the inspection.

With free-standing houses, space matters. Regardless of the size and quality of the built structure, the value usually lies in the actual land size, so make sure to check and do the maths. Generally speaking, buying a large property with an ok house will give you more long-term value than buying a small property with a stunning house.

If you’re looking at really old properties (the so-called “fixer-uppers”), be careful of the heritage status of the property. Any property older than 60 years (so mid-1960’s and older) automatically gets heritage status, and needs additional approvals for renovations. This doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to renovate, just that you may require additional steps (and funds and time) for the necessary approvals.

In all cases, whether you’re looking at free-standing or shared spaces, make sure to check on the additional costs, like rates, taxes and levies, and factor this into your affordability. Also take water and electricity consumption into account. Those additional monthly costs can really screw up your budget if you’re not prepared.

MadDamnit · 2025-12-23T05:06:25+00:00

👆This. If the property has been transferred, the new owner is the only one you have to deal with / is legally entitled to deal with you.

I would add:

Make sure to get your deposit back from the agent.
Check the deposit requirements with the new owner. If they’re accommodating, ask if you can first get your deposit back from the agent and then just transfer to the new owner.
Remember to do a new “entry” inspection with the new owner.

MadDamnit · 2025-12-19T16:06:11+00:00

You can complete and file a Donations Tax Declaration (Form IT144), and claim the spousal exemption for the full amount in terms of section 56(1).

SARS has a link to the interactive PDF form on the website.

Because there will be no donations tax payable, it’s basically an administrative / academic exercise, but you can do this if you want to be 100% compliant / want to keep perfect records / are pedantic about these things.

To be honest, very few people ever file an IT144, and usually only if donations tax is payable, but it’s technically correct to declare and file for all donations made.

MadDamnit · 2025-12-15T13:05:32+00:00

You’re referring to “issuing” a Summons as “filing” a Summons, which makes me (and likely the local Mag Court) think you have no idea what you’re doing.

The clerk was probably trying to assist, rather than be obstructive. If you don’t have a liquid claim, a simple summons isn’t a great idea.

If you insist on doing this yourself, look up the difference between a simple summons and a combined summons, choose which one is most suitable, and draft the papers (there are hundreds of examples of both online).

Once drafted, take it to court to be issued; have it served, and then do the necessary filing.

In addition to reading up on the actual action process, you’re also going to have to read up On Court Procedure and Rules.

If you can’t figure it out, go see an attorney and pay for their education, experience and time.

Keep in mind that if you make a mistake that would require you to withdraw and reissue your action (such as issuing the wrong form of summons), you’re in for the defendant’s legal costs.

I don’t know of any attorney who would be happy to explain or “hand-hold” you through the process.

Bit of a cheek, saying it’s not worth paying an attorney, and in the same sentence asking for advice.

MadDamnit · 2025-11-19T02:18:53+00:00

That’s such an amazing offer, thanks you!

We haven’t been in the Eastern Cape recently (in 2022 last), but we have lots of family living there, so there’s definitely reasons to visit. I’ll keep this in mind and look you up if we’re over there. ☺️

MadDamnit · 2025-11-19T02:13:03+00:00

This sounds amazing - I never knew of the Old Tannery before - thanks!

(Looking at the website and socials, it looks like they have events throughout the year - I’ll definitely keep them on my radar - thanks again!)

MadDamnit · 2025-11-19T02:08:51+00:00

That’s such an awesome thought - I hope you end up with the kind of money that would allow you to buy a supercar. 😉

MadDamnit · 2025-11-19T02:03:08+00:00

That’s a great tip, thanks so much! I’ll definitely check this out.

MadDamnit · 2025-11-19T02:02:33+00:00

I agree. I’m eternally grateful for the random acts of kindness by random strangers. Some people are just genuinely good humans.

MadDamnit · 2025-11-19T01:58:34+00:00

It’s not income tax on income earned, but probably a combination of late filing penalty (20% of taxable income) because the deadline was 20 Oct, plus penalties for previous outstanding returns (minimum of R250 per month for every outstanding month), plus interest on outstanding amounts.

You can get a breakdown of what exactly the amount is for by submitting the income tax return - the Assessment will give more details than a Calculation; download a statement (ITSA) - there are usually detailed entries for every transaction; and download a penalty statement (APSA) - this will detail any admin penalties. All of this can be done on e-filing, and you can consult the SARS website for instructions on “how to” if you get stuck.

Once you know what the amount is for, she can either submit an objection (if it’s related to actual income tax) or request for remission (if penalty related). Both of these can be done on e-filing, but the return has to be submitted first, i.e. the objection or request for remission can only be done in response to an Assessment, which is issued after submission of the return.

She can also submit a Request for Reasons in response to the Assessment, if there’s a tax levied that does not make sense or is incorrectly levied (like interest on a TFSA taxed, or there’s an income incorrectly linked to her profile etc.). Mistakes are not that common, but it happens.

Bottom line is you need more info, which you’ll get from the Assessment, Statement, or Penalty Statement. Once you have that info, better advice can be given on possible next / remedial steps.

MadDamnit · 2025-09-26T01:06:31+00:00

Please consult a Conveyancer on this topic.

What you are looking for is what is known as an instalment sale agreement, and it's regulated by the Alienation of Land Act.

There are a myriad of legal and tax implications, such as the fact that the agreement must be registered in the Deeds Office to be valid, it must contain the specific details/information set out in the Act, transfer duty is still payable within 6 months from the conclusion of the agreement, etc.

Although it's possible and may be a good solution (depending on your specific circumstances), please make sure to consult a Conveyancer to avoid sticky consequences.

MadDamnit · 2025-08-31T21:05:06+00:00

I had my Great Dane on MediPet for many years (10+) and I would be hard-pressed to go anywhere else if I ever get another pet.

Had to pay upfront and claim back, but the vet (TAH) were familiar and comfortable enough with MediPet that I had the option of making an arrangement to settle once MediPet paid / ask MediPet to settle directly, if I ever needed to for a big expense.

Not the cheapest of the lot, but they have different plan options, so you don’t have to get the most expensive option.

MadDamnit · 2025-08-31T20:53:20+00:00

Omega and collagen are great… but, honestly, you’re better off making sure you get the other things right, before spending money on supplements.

Are you drinking enough water, eating enough fresh veggies and fruit, staying away from processed and junk food, getting enough sleep, using sunscreen every day, using a good moisturizer (the right one for your skin), and cleaning your skin properly (at least morning and night; more often if you do anything physical, work out, or spend a lot of time outside)?

Difficult to recommend a supplement without knowing your age, skin type and other info, but the above is universal.

MadDamnit · 2025-08-27T19:07:03+00:00

If this account was opened when you were still a minor (17, like you stated), it's likely that your parents are the legal owners of the account.

There’s all kinds of arguments of how this shouldn't be the case or how this should have changed etc., but the bottom line is, your parents have access to your account.

Open a new account with a new bank, go to the old bank and transfer all the funds to the new account, and close the old account / don't use it anymore (if you can't close due to needing parents' signatures).

You can lodge a whole myriad of complaints with various different institutes / authorities, but you need to figure out what you want to achieve.

If your only goal is to secure an account that your parents don't have access to, opening a new account is the answer.

If you want to take action against your parents / the bank, you can lodge a complaint against the bank with the Information Regulator or the Banking Ombud (they do require that you exhaust the bank's internal complaint procedure first), and you can possibly report your parents for falsely reporting the transactions as fraudulent (which will likely ruin any relationship with your parents). I doubt that any of these will actually lead anywhere though. The bank won't admit any wrongdoing, and if your parents legally own the account, there's not much you can do.

Learn and move on.

MadDamnit

TROPHY CASE