Warning for estates that scan driver’s licences in South Africa

• Private estates in South Africa can refuse entry to individuals with expired car licence discs, even if the licence has only recently expired or is within the 21-day grace period.
• The rules governing entry to private estates were recently clarified by a High Court ruling, which stated that denying access to people other than the tenant does not amount to spoliation.
• The recent comments by Johlene Wasserman, Director of Community Schemes and Compliance, highlight the significant power private property owners have over their policies, and the ongoing disputes over the collection and storage of personal information in gated estates and businesses.