Otrebski Attorneys publishes legal information so that ordinary South Africans can understand their rights, the procedures that affect them, and the options they have. This editorial policy explains how that content is produced, checked, and kept current. It applies to every article and guide on this website.
Who writes our content
Every article is written for and published under the name of one of the attorneys at the firm: Nastasja Otrebski (Founder and Director), Natalie Venter (Senior Associate), or Kerishni Pillay (Candidate Attorney). The byline you see on an article is the attorney responsible for it. We do not publish legal content under anonymous or invented names.
Review before publication
Noarticle goes live until the attorney named on it has reviewed and approved it. The reviewing attorney checks the legal substance of the article: that it correctly states South African law, that it describes procedures accurately, and that it does not promise outcomes we cannot stand behind. If an article does not pass that review, it is corrected or it is not published.
Sources we rely on
Our articles cite authoritative South African sources: government websites, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the judiciary, the Legal Practice Council, and published legislation. When an article discusses an Act of Parliament, we verify that the Act is in force as amended and that the provisions we describe have commenced. Where a law has been enacted but is not yet in operation, we say so rather than stating it as current law.
We do not rely on foreign legal content for South African topics. Court procedure, maintenance law, and criminal procedure differ between countries, and only South African law governs the matters we write about.
Keeping content current
The law changes, and so do our articles. When legislation changes, or when a court decision alters how a provision works in practice, we review the affected articles and update them. Each article shows the date it was last modified so you can see how recent the information is.
Corrections
If you believe an article contains an error, tell us. Use the contact form on our contact page and describe what you believe is wrong. We treat correction reports seriously: the responsible attorney reviews the report, checks the point against the current law, and corrects the article if it is wrong. We do not quietly amend legal substance without checking it first.
What our content is, and is not
Everything on this website is general legal information, not legal advice. Reading an article does not make you a client of the firm, and general information cannot take account of the specific facts of your matter. Before acting on anything you read here, speak to an attorney about your own situation.
How we choose what to write about
Our topics come from the questions people actually face. Many articles begin as questions clients have asked during consultations: what happens at a bail hearing, how maintenance is calculated, when a protection order is needed. Others address the legal situations we see most often in Gauteng’s courts, from drunk driving charges to divorce procedure. When many people are asking the same question, that question deserves a clear, accurate answer in plain language.
Independence
Our content is written by the firm, for the public, and is not influenced by advertisers, sponsors, or third parties. We do not accept payment to cover topics, and we do not publish promotional content disguised as information. Where an article links to an outside source, the link is there because the source supports the point being explained, not because anyone paid for it.
Disclaimer. This editorial policy describes how Otrebski Attorneys produces and maintains the informational content on this website. The content itself is general information about South African law and is not legal advice. For advice on a specific matter, please contact the firm directly.