Latest Legal Briefs
Friends And Family May Turn To Foes – Be Careful Who You Appoint As An Executor
There are only two things in life that are inevitable, death and taxes. Taxes are debatable however death will come knocking on each and every one of our doors at some point in our life. This article is about making wise and responsible decisions prior to your death to ensure that you appoint an...
Tanzania: Regulatory Update on Critical Information Infrastructure
On 19 June 2026, the Minister for Communication and Information Technology (Minister) issued the Cybercrimes (Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure) Order, 2026 (Order) as provided for under section 28 of the Cybercrimes Act, Cap. 443 R.E. 2023 (the Act). The Order designates 25...
Fair process beyond the workplace: Natural justice in discipline within a religious community
When we think of disciplinary hearings, we tend to picture the workplace: an employer, an employee and a body of law developed to hold the two in a fair process. Yet the demands of fairness are not confined to the conditions of employment. In Divine Life Society of South Africa and Others v...
Key considerations and compliance challenges as South Africa nears implementation of groundbreaking "Failure to Prevent Corrupt Activities Offence"
Arguably one of the most far-reaching recommendations of the State Capture Commission, the introduction of a failure to prevent corruption offence, is on the cusp of being introduced in South Africa. The Judicial Matters Amendment Bill (the “Bill”) which is due to be considered by the National...
Residential Tenant, Landlord Rights Under Lockdown
In the economic turmoil caused by Covid-19 lockdown, many people have not been able to pay their residential rent. Under government lockdown regulations – which try to ameliorate this problem – where do tenants and landlords stand legally? Two main scenarios emerge in the regulations passed by...
Eric Bonnet-Maes appointed Chief Executive Officer of LexisNexis (RELX Group) for Continental Europe, Middle East and Africa
Eric Bonnet-Maes joined LexisNexis France in 2007 as Sales and Operational Marketing Director before becoming Chief Operating Officer from 2014. Since 2018, he led LexisNexis' Asia region, steering the development of Greater China, Japan, South Korea, India and Southeast Asia from Hong Kong. "I...
Failing to meet the onus of proof sways the tightrope
I have often reminded employers of the provisions of section 188 of the LRA. Appreciation for the importance of these provisions is crucial for employers who are considering dismissal of employees because they categorically and firmly place the onus of proof on the employer. What confuses...
South Africa’s evolving mineral and petroleum industries
South Africa’s mineral and petroleum industries faced significant changes in 2024 in view of the establishment of the Government of National Unity and legislative developments in these industries. In May 2024, South Africa had its seventh general election the results of which paved the way for...
Sars taken to task over tax returns filed without taxpayer's authority
A recent Johannesburg High Court judgment has highlighted the limits of the South African Revenue Service’s (Sars) discretion when refusing to reconsider tax assessments, particularly where tax returns have allegedly been submitted fraudulently by persons acting without the taxpayer's authority....
Supporting the People Who Shape South Africa's Information Landscape
Libraries are essential to education, research and access to knowledge across South Africa. At the heart of every library are dedicated professionals who connect people with trusted information, embrace new technologies and respond to evolving user needs. One of the most important opportunities...
Why your AI vendor contract is probably a liability: 7 hard truths from the front lines
Everywhere we look, every day, we see new AI tools competing for our attention. Whether it is social media or by word of mouth. It is everywhere. Every new product promising businesses more efficiency, cost and time savings. However, most entrepreneurs and procurement teams are failing their...
Protecting your product get-up: When packaging becomes intellectual property
Standing out in a competitive market and attracting consumers' attention is not easy. To do so, the overall appearance of a product (known as the “get-up”) should be distinctive. The get-up of a product encompasses far more than just a name or logo: it includes colours, packaging, shape, layout,...
The MTBPS needs to focus on easing the cost of doing business
The Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, has committed himself to the task of pursuing his predecessors’ structural reform agenda and reducing red tape, the progress of which will be keenly noted in the Medium Term Budget Policy (MTBPS) on the 11th of November. Angelika Goliger, EY Africa’s...
Cornucopia Trust – When does a finance charge become section 24J interest?
The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in CSARS v Cornucopia Trust [2026] ZASCA 116 (Cornucopia Trust) concerned the deductibility of loan raising fees under section 24J. The taxpayer incurred substantial raising fees in connection with acquisition and refinancing facilities and...
SABS publishes draft AI standards for public comment
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has published a series of draft standards on artificial intelligence (AI) for public comment. The drafts adopt international ISO/IEC standards as South African documents, and cover transparency, data quality, human oversight, and the benefits and...
