Wake-up call for anyone living in complexes and estates in South Africa

• The wake-up call for anyone living in complexes and estates in South Africa is the importance of having legal standing and objective evidence before approaching the Community Schemes Ombud Service (CSOS) for dispute resolution.
• Two recent cases were dismissed by CSOS due to lack of legal standing and unsubstantiated allegations, highlighting the need for community schemes to approach CSOS with proper evidence and standing.
• The dismissed cases may lead to a re-evaluation of community schemes' approach to CSOS, with experts warning that applicants must meet the narrow definitions of Section 38 and Section 1 of the CSOS Act to have their disputes heard.