Why South African Business Owners Must Plan Their Succession
With only 30% of family businesses surviving to the second generation, the time to act is well before you’re ready to step away. Every business owner reaches a point where the question shifts from “how do I grow this?” to “what happens when I’m gone?” For South African entrepreneurs approaching retirement or considering succession in […]
Pocket Money as a Tool Against Youth Financial Illiteracy in South Africa
In 2026, South Africa continues to grapple with one of the most severe youth unemployment and financial literacy crises in the world. According to the United Nations in South Africa, unemployment stood at 31.9% at the start of 2026, while youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 34 still exceeded 46%. Financial illiteracy compounds this […]
The R2.3 Million Threshold: A New Era for Small Business Growth
For the first time in 17 years, the goalposts for small businesses in South Africa have shifted. As of 1 April 2026, the compulsory VAT registration threshold has increased from R1 million to R2.3 million. This change finally acknowledges how much the cost of doing business has increased since 2009. While this may feel like […]
The Name You’ve Built, the Rules That Protect It: Navigating CIPC Name Disputes
For most business owners, your company name is far more than a formality. It is how your market recognises you. It reflects your work, your relationships, and the trust you have built with your clients. The question is: what happens when another business starts trading under a name that looks or sounds like yours? This […]
The Unwritten Rules of War: Nuclear Weapons and International Customary Law
The prohibition of nuclear weapons remains one of the most contentious issues in international customary law. Events such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki prompted global efforts to limit their use, yet the legal framework governing their use remains deeply contested. Nations in possession of nuclear weapons resist disarmament due to security and […]
The Rei Vindicatio and the Actio Ad Exhibendum
This article will briefly look at two actions that can be instituted simultaneously, and an alternative to each other, when you have been wrongfully deprived of possession of your property. The first action is the rei vindicatio. This action is instituted in order to claim the physical return of one’s property. The second action, which will […]
Precautionary suspension of an employee – What are the requirements?
Employers are often challenged on the fairness of the precautionary suspension of an Employee. The inherent fairness criteria have been impacted by the decision of the Constitutional Court in Long vs South African Breweries (Pty) Ltd and others (2018) ZACC 7. The purpose of a precautionary suspension of an Employee is mainly to mitigate further risk […]
Growth Anticipated as SA Exits the Grey List
South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list has injected a much-needed dose of optimism into the economy, with the commercial property sector anticipated to benefit directly. This announcement shows that South Africa is back on the radar of global investors. It restores credibility and lowers perceived risk, both of which […]
The Consequences of Making Loans to Trusts
Family trusts have long been a central feature of South African estate and wealth planning, with high-net-worth individuals using trust structures to protect assets and to save certain assets, particularly from estate duty. However, many taxpayers who hold substantial assets baulk at the idea of losing complete control over any assets that they may transfer […]
Mediation Before Litigation: Balancing Efficiency and Constitutional Rights
South Africa’s civil justice system faces significant challenges, including escalating litigation costs, prolonged delays, and an overwhelming backlog of cases, with some civil trial dates not projected until 2031. Against this background, the South African Law Reform Commission (SALRC) has been developing a Draft Mediation Bill since 2019 to integrate alternative dispute resolution (ADR), particularly […]