Wendy Knowler's warning to potential homeowners
Thinking of buying a home? Wendy Knowler shares a crucial warning — along with smart consumer tips to help you avoid hidden costs and costly mistakes.
1. Never buy a property without a professional inspection
Late last month, a Western Cape High Court judgment delivered a stark warning to property buyers.
A Waterfront home’s wooden deck collapsed just seven months after purchase, sparking over a decade of expensive litigation.
The buyers sued the seller, estate agent, and the agency for non-disclosure of latent defects. The court absolved all the defendants, ruling that marketing phrases such as “stunning” are mere sales puffery; that estate agents aren’t engineers, and that the voetstoots clause stands unless the buyers can prove that the seller and agent deliberately hid what they knew about known defects.
The key lesson: latent defects remain the buyer’s risk. The best safeguard is to pay for an independent, certified home inspection before your offer to purchase becomes unconditional.
One professional report can save you years of financial pain, emotional stress, and regret.
2. Put your account cancellation in writing
Many people assume that a face-to-face or telephonic request to close an account—such as a retail store card—is enough. It isn't. Without a paper trail, accounts can remain open, accruing "club fees" and "protection premiums" for years, leading to debt collection drama.
So, here’s the advice - always email your cancellation request.
This provides time-stamped proof of your instruction. If you only have a verbal agreement, you technically still owe the debt. Also make sure that you instruct the company to cancel ALL your extras - club fees, insurances etc.
3. The “real” diamond con
The concept of a diamond engagement ring wasn’t tradition—it was a brilliant 1947 ad campaign by De Beers. A copywriter coined the line: “A Diamond is Forever,” and invented the “ring must cost two months’ salary” rule.
And it worked. By the 1990s, 80% of US brides had diamond rings, and it was a similar story in many other parts of the world.
But lab-grown diamonds—chemically identical but up to 85% cheaper—have shattered the illusion, and switched demand. Currently, more than 90% of engagement rings sold in SA contain lab diamonds.
Anglo American, which owns 85% of De Beers, is in the advanced stage of selling the business in order to exit the diamond business.
That begs the question: what else are you overpaying for, thanks to massive marketing campaigns? Designer labels, perhaps?
4. You’re still entitled to an online shopping "cooling-off" period, even if you bought on a sale
Many South African e-tailers falsely refuse to take back non-defective goods if they were bought on sale.
This is illegal under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA). You have a statutory seven-day "cooling-off" period for most online purchases, allowing you to change your mind for any reason—even if it was a "Black Friday" or clearance deal.
If a retailer refuses a return based on "sale" status, remind them of your ECTA rights. It’s your money, and the discount doesn't sign away your legal protections.
Report them to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud.
5. Your truth is not defamation
Some companies try to make resolving your complaint conditional on you signing a "confidentiality clause" or deleting your less-than-flattering social media posts about them.
This is a bullying tactic. Under the Consumer Protection Act, a company is legally required to fix a defect - such as a car fault - within six months of purchase, and they can’t make that repair dependent on your silence.
Know this: if what you posted is 100% true and in the public interest, no defamation charge will stick. You can update your post to say it was resolved, but never let them force you to hide the truth.
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Get in touch with Wendy via her website or her Facebook page. Please note that Wendy is not able to personally respond to every email she receives. If she is able to take up your case, she will contact you directly. Here are other avenues for you to consider.