The global death toll from the coronavirus soared past the two million mark on Friday, 15 January 2021, just over a year after the virus was first detected. It is no surprise, therefore, that this pandemic has changed the way we do everything.

One practical aspect which has been affected, in the context of sectional title schemes, is the ability to hold annual general meetings. Based on my interactions with trustees and owners, it appears that the majority of bodies corporate have simply decided to abandon their annual general meetings until the glorious day comes that they can meet again in person.

While the pandemic has been life-changing, it shouldn’t prevent life from continuing, albeit in a different way to what we are used to. The so-called “new normal” is here to stay and bodies corporate need to find new ways to continue functioning effectively.

Fortunately, the prescribed management rules (PMRs) prescribe various ways for bodies corporate to deal with the important business that must be transacted at each annual general meeting while the pandemic rages on.

These are some of the “new normal” ways in which bodies corporate can deal with their annual general meetings:

  1. The most obvious option is to conduct the AGM entirely remotely. This can be done via Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp or even Facebook, provided that this remote method of attendance:
    a. is accessible to all members entitled to attend the meeting,
    b. permits all persons participating in the meeting to effectively communicate with each other in real-time during the meeting; and
    c. permits the chairperson to confirm, with reasonable certainty, the identity of the participants at the meeting.
  2. A less obvious option, which isn’t always practical for some bodies corporate, is avoiding the need to hold an annual general meeting altogether. A body corporate is not required to hold an AGM, provided that either before or within one month of the end of a financial year, all members in writing waive the right to the meeting and consent in writing to motions that deal with all the items of business that must be transacted at the AGM;
  3. If neither of the above-mentioned options are reasonably attainable in your scheme, you could consider adopting a hybrid approach by allowing a limited number of owners to attend the AGM in person (provided that you can comply with all social distancing rules and protocols) and the rest of the owners who have access to the internet can participate in the AGM remotely.

Understandably, it may take a bit longer than expected for schemes to put the necessary measures in place to adapt to the new normal. To ensure that your scheme can meet its financial obligations and continue functioning effectively, while you arrange the AGM, you should consider whether you need to follow the procedure set out in PMR 21(3)(b), which allows the trustees to increase the levy contributions due by members by no more than 10% at the end of the financial year. This increase will remain effective until the members can approve the new budgets at the AGM, provided it is warranted by the anticipated increase of the body corporate’s liabilities and is authorised by a trustee resolution taken in writing.

The last 12 months have shown us that we need to be flexible and innovative to adapt to the new normal, and bodies corporate need to find creative ways to ensure that they don’t get left behind. There is simply no excuse for failing to plan for an appropriate AGM.


Article reference: Paddocks Press: Volume 16, Issue 2.

Specialist Community Scheme Attorney (LLB, LLM), Auren Freitas dos Santos, is the Director of The Advisory, a boutique law firm specialising exclusively in community schemes law. Contact him at www.theadvisory.co.za.

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Back to Paddocks Press – February 2021 Edition.

6 Comments.

  • IVAN HELLMANN
    24/02/2021 13:58

    What is the situation where its a HMO and in the rules it states no virtual meetings of any sorts?

    • Paddocks
      24/02/2021 14:23

      Hi Ivan,

      This article deals with sectional title, if you would like one of our attorneys to help you with your query, they will need to see the governance documentation of your scheme in order to assist and advise on the way forward. Please send this to consulting@paddocks.co.za in order to receive a no-obligation quote for their assistance.

      Kind regards
      Paddocks Team

  • Leatitia Pienaar
    24/02/2021 16:37

    Thank you for the article. We did the same with our AGM in October 2020. We could not do it online, but the necessary documentation were distributed via e-mail and by hand and owners could react via email and/or in writing. Our owners are senior people, some without access to email or other facilities. It worked well.

  • Les Reynard
    24/02/2021 18:08

    Hi
    One of the problems here is that the Auditor is not managing to get the audits done and delivered to us within the 4 month period – whilst the Act wants the AGM to be held within 4 months of the FYE, putting this onto the Trustees and the MA, but the Auditor is not under the same pressure of any Act or Management Rules – if they cant manage to do the financials in time for us to call an AGM – They just do not care!
    Even before Covid we had to pressure them almost daily to get the financials done – but now they have additional work to do with the CSOS requirements – I can see the Regulations Board having to change the 4 month rule soon.

    Les

  • Rod Gush
    25/02/2021 11:04

    Can you please let me have your interpretation of Paragraphs 2.7 of CSOS Directive dated 29 August 2020 which reads: The CSOS will not penalise any community scheme for scheduling an annual general
    meeting after the National State of Disaster period ends. Community schemes will,
    directly after their AGM, submit their annual returns to the CSOS. It will not be
    necessary for schemes to complete an application for condonation for the late filing
    of their annual returns. Should an AGM be scheduled after the National State of
    Disaster period, it should be recorded in the minutes.

    • Paddocks
      03/03/2021 10:42

      Hi Rod,
      Thank you for your comment – please contact Auren at info@theadvisory.co.za in order to discuss this with him. Auren’s team will provide a quote for his assistance with your matter.

      Kind regards
      Paddocks Team