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...
Bowmans recognised by IFLR1000 across its African footprint
IFLR1000 has once again recognised pre-eminent African law firm Bowmans, for its excellence in advising on complex, multijurisdictional matters across the continent. The firm achieved 17 rankings (10 of which were in Tier 1) across 11 practice areas. In addition, 72 of its lawyers received 76...
How algorithmic bias in AI hurts your business and what you can do
A highly qualified jobseeker applies for a role you’re desperate to fill. Their application is screened out by an automated system. You’ve lost the perfect candidate and you don’t even know it. How could this have happened? Because the algorithm, trained on historical data, has learned to favour...
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...
Labour Appeal Court knocks employer off tightrope
The courts do not normally interfere with an employer’s decisions relating to appointment of applicants to positions. However, exceptions to this norm might be made where the appointment constitutes a promotion of an internal applicant or where the employer has broken its own rules pertaining to...
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 will soon know about every foreign property you own — Are you prepared?
The South African Revenue Service (Sars) is about to gain unprecedented visibility into your offshore life. A new global tax agreement means Sars will soon automatically receive detailed information about every foreign immovable property owned by South African taxpayers across more than 20...
Trends shaping South Africa’s food retail and wholesale sector
South Africa’s food retail and wholesale sector is one of the country’s most dynamic industries, directly linked to household consumption, employment, and food security. It reflects both the opportunities and pressures shaping the economy in 2025 and beyond. These insights are drawn from...
The Conveyancer’s Duty of Care: Mitigating Risk in Property Transfers
The conveyancer plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and legally compliant transfer of property. Beyond administrative tasks, conveyancers owe a duty of care to their clients, which, if breached, can result in significant financial and legal consequences. This article examines the...
How Free is Mickey Mouse? Disney Draws the Line on Mickey Jewellery
Mickey Mouse is making headlines, and this time, it’s not for his on-screen antics. Instead, the iconic mouse has stepped off the screen and into the courtroom. In July 2025, The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”) filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court against Red Earth Group t/a Satéur...
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...
Whose job is it anyway? Allocation of risk in slip-and-fall claims
December is around the corner, and malls and shopping centres will be bustling with festive shoppers, creating a lively yet crowded environment. With the surge in foot traffic, extended trading hours, and seasonal decorations, the risk of slips and fall increases significantly. Wet floors from...
Employer ordered to pay compensation for failing to adequately investigate sexual harassment complaints
An employer’s liability in instances where it fails to comply with its statutory duties and its own sexual harassment policy by not adequately investigating an employee’s complaints about improper conduct of a colleague was considered by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration...
