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Legal News

Covid-19 vaccinations can be made mandatory

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th September 2021 Owing to the latest guidelines provided by the Department of Employment and Labour, which stipulates that Covid-19 vaccinations can be made mandatory by employers, companies would need to update their policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the guidelines, which correspond with... →

Competition Commission advances efforts to mitigate price gouging during pandemic

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 10th September 2021 The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a spike in price gouging and complaints from customers, and the Competition Commission of South Africa had to, and continues to, focus efforts on mitigating this situation, and has learnt several lessons from this. This was indicated during the a webinar hosted by... →

An image of Competition Commission Litigation manager

Competition Commission Litigation manager Candice Slump outlines the CC‘s legal and practical approach to price gouging during the pandemic.

Competition Commission decision raises questions

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd September 2021 The Competition Amendment Act, and a recent decision by the Competition Commission of South Africa, have benefits, but also raise questions for companies, speakers indicated during a webinar held by legal adviser Bowmans on September 1. The commission recently prohibited a transaction in which... →

An image of Bowmans competition partner Lebohang Mabidikane, speaking during a webinar.

Bowmans competition partner Lebohang Mabidikane provides some background to Competition Commission’s use of public interest assessment, following its recent decision to block a proposed acquisition of Burger King on these grounds.

Court decision could increase electricity prices, revenue

By: Cameron Mackay 20th August 2021 National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) is appealing a High Court application that State-owned power utility Eskom brought against Nersa last year, which states that Nersa exceeded its boundaries regarding the determination on tariff adjustments requested by Eskom. Energy sector law... →

NIKITA LALLA Eskom’s argument is that Nersa had gone beyond its statutory or regulatory regime, and the information it was allowed to consider in determining tariff increases

New consumer campaign launched to assist in the fight against illicit cigarettes

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 11th August 2021 South Africa’s tobacco industry is stepping up its campaign against illicit cigarette producers with a new educational campaign aimed at helping smokers distinguish between legal and illicit products. The ‘Know What You Smoke’ campaign is hinged on an animated video that explains how the price of... →

Insurers advise on claims related to civil unrest

By: Donna Slater 23rd July 2021 Following the looting that took place during the civil unrest of mid-July in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, insurance experts advise that claimants ensure they have proof of damage or loss or destruction of stock, to ensure they are able to submit claims within the 30-day threshold. During a webinar... →

Investment event targets S Africa and Germany

By: Halima Frost 23rd July 2021 The annual Africa Financial Services Investment Conference – Investing in Africa event, known as AFSIC, organised by hosting company Africa Events Limited, will be held in London, UK, on October 11 and 12. The event provides a forum for investors, business leaders and dealmakers to build... →

Panel discussion at AFSIC Investing in Africa event

SEATED DEBATE The forums and mini country-summits will focus on highlighting investment and business opportunities in Africa

Contracts need to be examined before declaring force majeure in times of unrest – Webber Wentzel

By: Donna Slater 16th July 2021 Following the looting, violence and vandalism following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma, law firm Webber Wentzel says businesses experiencing disruption may be able to invoke force majeure clauses in contracts, or the law of supervening impossibility, depending on the... →

Settlement of Covid-19-related insurance claims remains problematic, says ICA

By: Donna Slater 6th July 2021 Insurance Claims Africa (ICA) CEO Ryan Woolley says it is clear from new research released on July 6, that the short-term insurance industry (STI) earned record profits during the pandemic. He states that the STI therefore has “no reason” to further delay the settlement of all outstanding... →

Solidarity files court papers opposing water dept’s appointment of Cuban engineers

By: Donna Slater 6th July 2021 Trade union Solidarity, on July 6, issued its court documents in its case against the Department of Water and Sanitation, challenging the legality of the controversial decision to appoint Cuban engineers. The 24 foreign engineers were welcomed into South Africa by the department in April to... →

Water department extends comment period for unconventional gas regulations

By: Donna Slater 14th June 2021 The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has extended the period available for the public and key sector stakeholders to comment on the unconventional gas regulations, as published in government notice 406 in Government Gazette 44545 in May, by 60 days. This follows after stakeholders... →

Pandemic highlights investment opportunities

By: Halima Frost 4th June 2021 Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of strengthening supply chains in Africa to reduce reliance on other continents, where possible, private equity investment firm Agile Capital principal dealmaker Liz Kolobe tells Engineering News. Therefore, the company has announced that it is open to... →

LIZ KOLOBE Agile Capital has announced that it is open to exploring new opportunities and is looking to deploy the capital it has available in its fourth private equity fund

Sub-Saharan Africa rebound significantly lower than globally

By: Halima Frost 4th June 2021 A smaller contraction in 2020 and a sharper growth rebound in 2021 have led to predictions of a global rebound of about 5.6%; however, sub-Saharan Africa will lag behind, with the slowest recovery rate of about 3%, said data research and analytics company Fitch Solutions Country Risk & Industry... →

PLUGGED IN The sub-Saharan Africa recovery is on on trend with the rest of the world

Competition Tribunal approves two separate renewable energy transactions

By: Donna Slater 28th May 2021 The Competition Tribunal has unconditionally approved two mergers, by the same acquiring firm in the renewable energy sector after determining that both transactions are unlikely to substantially prevent or lessen competition in any relevant market, or have a negative impact on the public... →

Mboweni appoints ombud council leaders

By: Donna Slater 24th May 2021 Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has appointed the first Ombud Council board and council Chief Ombud, independent consultant Eileen Meyer, giving effect to the new financial ombud system in terms of the Financial Sector Regulation Act. Meyer will serve in her position as a transitional measure,... →

Elidz hopeful new SIU probe will end corruption, maladministration allegations

By: Donna Slater 19th May 2021 The East London Industrial Development Zone (Elidz) says it “welcomes” a probe into allegations of corruption and maladministration by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) if the authorities “deem it worthwhile to put resources into these allegations once more”. The new SIU investigation comes a... →

Solidarity starts legal proceedings over Cuban engineers

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th April 2021 South Africa trade union Solidarity has started a legal process against Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu regarding the appointment of Cuban engineers to help municipalities in the roll out of water infrastructure projects in South Africa. In the legal letter,... →

Fasken appoints South African office chairperson

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 30th March 2021 Business law firm Fasken has appointed Lara Bezuidenhoudt as chairperson of the firm in South Africa, a role that provides overall leadership to the partners in the South African region, including the fulfilling of governance responsibilities. She is currently the leader of the finance and... →

Labour Court dismisses SAAPA's application for leave to appeal lawfulness of pilots lockout

By: Donna Slater 4th March 2021 Labour Court judge Andre van Niekerk on March 3 dismissed the South African Airways Pilot’s Association’s (SAAPA’s) application for leave to appeal the Labour Court’s December 2020 judgment, with a costs order in favour of South African Airways (SAA) and the business rescue practitioners (BRPs).... →

Organisation bemoans Treasury’s decision to cancel S12J investments

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th February 2021 The 12J Association of South Africa has expressed disappointment at the decision by the National Treasury not to extend Section 12 J of the Income Tax Act beyond June 30. Association chairperson Dino Zuccollo points out that this was announced in the National Treasury's 2021 Budget Review, on... →

Alcohol, tobacco industries bemoan excise tax increase

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 25th February 2021 The South African alcohol industry, including the National Liquor Traders Council (NLTC), South African Liquor Brandowners Association (Salba), Vinpro, the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), retailers and manufacturers, have noted their concern about Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’s... →

DMRE says emergency-power deviation notice will not trigger legal challenge

18th February 2021 On February 12, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel published a Gazette notice granting the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) permission to deviate from the relevant Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment code of good practice for the Risk Mitigation Independent... →

M&A activity drops in 2020 with late recovery

By: Donna Slater 3rd February 2021 Law firm Baker McKenzie reports that deal-making activity in sub-Saharan Africa dropped in the second half of 2020, when compared to the second half of 2019. Deal-making for the full year were also down in terms of both volume and value compared with 2019. →

Vaccine roll-out requires nuanced approach from employers

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 28th January 2021 With South Africa set to receive its first Covid-19 vaccine doses next week, the issue around companies' vaccine policies and employers’ role in vaccine rollout is very complex. Many different viewpoints and legal considerations will need to be taken into account, speakers participating in a... →

Lockdown has heightened risk of counterfeit components

By: Cameron Mackay 22nd January 2021 The national lockdown last year has significantly impacted on the circulation of original, as well as counterfeit, automotive components, says law firm Spoor & Fisher partner Paul Ramara. This can largely be attributed to the restrictions in place during the various levels of lockdown,... →

SELLING LIKE HOT BRAKES Counterfeit automotive parts poses a number of risks, including safety risks as well as having a negative impact on the economy

BMO, Linklaters among the world's top mining M&A advisers

By: Marleny Arnoldi 14th January 2021 BMO Capital Markets has been named the top mergers and acquisitions (M&A) financial adviser in the global mining sector for 2020 by value, while Linklaters and Black Cassels & Graydon were the top M&A legal advisers by value and volume, respectively. BMO advised on 13 deals worth $4.8-billion. →

M&A challenges remain, but so do lessons – law firm

By: Marleny Arnoldi 12th January 2021 Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) says many of last year’s uncertainties that impacted merger and acquisition (M&A) activity will remain this year. HSF global M&A head Gavin Davies says the significant regional and global questions from 2020 have not gone away, although some have... →

FSCA publishes crypto asset draft declaration

By: Donna Slater 7th January 2021 The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has published for comment a draft declaration on crypto assets as a financial product in terms of the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act of 2002 (FAIS). The FSCA also published a statement in support of the draft declaration, with the... →

Competition Commission publishes final automotive aftermarket guidelines

By: Donna Slater 11th December 2020 The Competition Commission has issued its final Guidelines for Competition in the South African Automotive Aftermarket, which are now available on the commission’s website and which will take effect from July 1, 2021. The guidelines were prepared in terms of Section 77 of the Competition Act (89... →

Payment of compensation to Ford Kuga owners finalised

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th November 2020 The National Consumer Commission (NCC) says the payment of compensation under a settlement agreement entered into between the NCC and Ford Motor Company South Africa, which was made an order by the National Consumer Tribunal (NCT) in March this year, has been finalised. Under the terms of the... →

Economy to affect home builders more

By: Mamaili Mamaila 13th November 2020 The effects of Covid-19 and the sluggish economy remain the biggest challenge for the civil engineering and construction sectors. →

SONGEZO BOOI After almost 12 years, the home-building industry is still struggling to reach its former peak

Tungsten launches Quantura alternative litigation funding model in South Africa

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 5th November 2020 Global engineering and construction claims consultancy Tungsten Capital has launched its Quantura subsidiary in South Africa, through which it will provide an alternative method of funding and developing commercially viable construction and engineering claims. Allardyce & Partners Attorneys... →

Private-sector investment key amid challenges

By: Mamaili Mamaila 30th October 2020 From an economic perspective, the Covid-19 pandemic has not affected countries in Africa, apart from South Africa, as much as countries on other continents. →

GET IT TOGETHER While there is so much potential in Africa, political certainty is required in conjunction with more streamlined procurement processes

Mazars reengineers itself to meet changing market demands

By: Donna Slater 27th October 2020 Tax, audit and advisory firm Mazars has unveiled its new global brand identity in more than 90 countries and territories including South Africa, marking a key milestone in the firm’s evolution. Mazars has been operating in South Africa since 2007 serving large listed, multinational and privately... →

Proactive national water programme on the cards

By: Halima Frost 16th October 2020 The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), in partnership with various government departments, is addressing the country’s water woes with the development of a proactive national water programme that aims to offer tangible solutions to municipalities, the relevant government departments and... →

FINANCIAL FILTER
The DBSA looks to offer a proactive infrastructure and financial based water reuse sub-programme as part of its national water programme

DBSA disruption specialist Johann Lübbe and infrastructure finance specialist Konstant Bruinette discuss the progress being made on a new national water programme that the DBSA is developing.

SACU Ministers commit to industrialisation

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 22nd September 2020 Finance Minister Tito Mboweni chaired the fourth joint Finance and Trade Ministers’ virtual Ministerial Retreat meeting on September 21. The participating Ministers agreed on refined development priorities for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) within the changing global and regional... →

Industry’s wings seemingly clipped

By: Mamaili Mamaila 11th September 2020 South Africa’s economy is hanging by a thread and this has presented massive challenges for the local aerospace industry, says aircraft design organisation Aerodesigns Africa director Murray Spoelstra. →

GLOBAL SIGHTS SET Similar to the local automotive industry that is manufacturing for European countries, so must there be opportunities to manufacture aircraft under licence for foreign companies

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Africa Business Energy Export Financial Health PROJECT Projects Technology Aggregate DIGITALISATION Environment Service Tourism Charter System Sustainable Building supply-chain Training Cutting Efficiency Gas Generator Installation Power Renewable Energy Renewable-Energy Resources Risk Management ... more

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