RSM South Africa

Legal insights

Coronavirus, contracts and force majeure

2 March 2020
Liz Pinnock
The Coronavirus is having a significant impact on the global economy as it increasingly disrupts production, supply chains and travel. With that in mind, organisations should consider any potential legal risks and how to protect themselves against them.
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Enterprise and Supplier Development for B-BBEE

22 May 2019
Requirements & identification of suitable beneficiaries
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What does mandatory audit firm rotation mean?

17 April 2019
The global financial crisis brought to the fore questions surrounding the scope and quality of external audit, market concentration and auditor independence. The crisis reopened concerns about auditor tenure and its consequences for auditor independence and audit quality.
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Determining the validity of a sworn affidavit for B-BBEE compliance

18 March 2019
On 3 September 2018, the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission issued a Practice Guide, which clarified the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) requirements for Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs) and Qualifying Small Enterprises (QSEs).
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Shareholder vs Stakeholder approach

1 February 2019
How corporations should be maximising long-term sustainability
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Adequate consideration - The risk in what you can't justify

18 December 2018
Phillip Kruger
Whether the economy of a country is in a period of retraction or expansion, one element of commerce which remains relevant is the intermittent reliance of companies on its shareholders for the provision of adequate capital funding in conducting its business. The motivation for the provision of capital funding may well differ, i.e.
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Labour Laws Amendment Bill - Parental, Adoption & Commissioning Parental Leave

20 September 2018
The Labour Laws Amendment Bill (“the Bill”), would allow for the amendment of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997 (BCEA).
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Executive, Non-Executive and Independent Directors

11 July 2018
Section 1 of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (Companies Act) defines a Director as “a member of the board of a company, as contemplated in section 66, or an alternate director of a company and includes any person occupying the position of director or alternate director, by whatever name designated”.
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Explaining the Y.E.S. Initiative

17 May 2018
On the 27th of March 2018, the President of the Republic of South Africa launched the Youth Employment Services (YES) Initiative, a business-led collaboration with government and labour, which aims to create more than one million paid internships for black youth.
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The Threshold for Major B-BBEE Transactions

17 April 2018
From 9th June 2017, any Major B-BBEE Transaction is required to be registered with the B-BBEE Commission in the prescribed Form BBBEE 18, within 15 days of being concluded.
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POPI and its impact on direct marketing

9 April 2018
We live in a period where technology allows consumers to be contacted at any time via e-mail, phone calls and even through social media.
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Amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act and the effects on learners and foreign nationals

9 March 2018
Candice Eaton Gaul
The Unemployment Insurance Fund (“UIF”) allows contributors to receive benefits from the fund in the event that they become unemployed, or are unable to work as a result of maternity leave, illness or the adoption of a child. UIF also provides benefits to the dependants of a deceased contributor.
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Requirements for Employment Equity Reporting

26 September 2017
Prior to 1994, South Africa was governed by apartheid regime, a system in which people were discriminated based on the colour of their skin, gender, disabilities, etc. As a result of apartheid, companies had unequal racial and gender representation of people in different levels of the organisations.
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Prescribed officers - Tag! You're it!

6 July 2017
Phillip Kruger
During consultation with clients, the question often arises as to which individuals in a company would be considered to be a Prescribed Officer in terms of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (“the Act”), and what does this mean for such an individual?
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King IV Report – The Importance of Corporate Governance

24 February 2017
I attended a Corporate Governance conference in September 2016. Judge Mervyn King was one of the speakers presenting on the King IV report which replaces King III and was officially released on 1 November 2016. It is effective for financial years commencing 1 April 2017.
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Share Buybacks - Section 48(8) of the Companies Act

14 December 2016
The Companies Act 71 of 2008 (“the Act”), provides that a company may acquire its own shares, to the extent that it is solvent and liquid, as more fully described in Section 4 of the Act.
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Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme: Exchange Control Relief

8 November 2016
The 2016/2017 Budget Speech by the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan saw the announcement of a Special Voluntary Disclosure Programme (“SVDP”), which is aimed at encouraging South African residents with undisclosed offshore assets and income to regularise their affairs through the SVDP.
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Empowering Supplier Status Revised

1 November 2016
One of the most significant changes in the Codes of Good Practice for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (“the New Codes”) that came into effect on 1 May 2015 was the requirement to be an Empowering Supplier.
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Section 20(7) and Section 20(8) of the Companies Act – When will a company be bound by contract?

4 October 2016
Phillip Kruger
Much has been written in the past as to the doctrine of Constructive Notice and the application of the Turquand rule.
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Investing in South Africa: The "Non-Resident" Endorsement

13 June 2016
When attending to investing in a South African entity as an offshore shareholder, it is important to understand the requirements of the Exchange Control Regulations of 1961 (promulgated in terms of the Currencies and Exchanges Act, 9 of 1933), hereinafter referred to as “the Regulations” and its application as regards to any person or entity in South Africa.
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South African Exchange Control Regulations

19 November 2015
Phillip Kruger
A Look at the Disposal of Intellectual Property Owned in South Africa to an Offshore Purchaser It often occurs that a company established in South Africa has developed a specific software program or other processes and/or applications upon which it basis its particular service offering or product.
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Director's resolution - The devil in the detail

5 November 2015
Phillip Kruger
Directors’ resolutions are common place in commerce as a convenient and effective manner in which the Directors of a Company can make a decision on behalf the Company.
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Investing into africa – foreign direct investment requirements

29 October 2015
Phillip Kruger
Global business is increasingly showing interest in expanding their business operations into the African continent.
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The Company Secretary of a Listed Company

25 September 2015
In terms of the Companies Act, 2008 ("the Act"), all public companies are required to have a company secretary who is accountable to the Board. The appointment may be a natural person or a juristic person.
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Section 30(4) of the Companies Act – New developments relating to the disclosure of directors' remuneration

25 September 2015
1. Section 30(4) of the Act and the non-binding opinion of CIPC
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Maternity leave and pregnancy - Instalment 4

25 September 2015
Instalment 4: What should a pregnant employee do if they feel like they are being discriminated against in their workplace for being pregnant?
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Maternity leave and pregnancy - Instalment 3

25 September 2015
Instalment 3: Are there any cases in South Africa where women have been discriminated against for being pregnant?
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The Companies Act - where are we now?

25 September 2015
1. Introduction
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The effect of the Labour Relations Amendment Bill 2013 on fixed term contract employees

25 September 2015
On 20 August 2013, the Labour Relations Amendment Bill 2013 (“the Bill”) was adopted by the National Assembly and, as it presently stands, this Bill will have a significant impact on labour relations in South Africa.
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Loans and other financial assistance to directors and prescribed officers of a company

25 September 2015
1. Introduction
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The importance of the employment contract

25 September 2015
The contract of employment is a vital document as it regulates the terms and conditions of employment between the employer and the employee.
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Sale of land agreement - "the real agreement"

25 September 2015
1. Introduction In transactions where immovable property is sold or transferred, it has been generally accepted that the transfer of immovable property would require two elements, namely: 1.1. A Sale of Land Agreement; and 1.2. Registration of the deed of transfer in the deeds office.
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Amendment of MOI? That is the question

25 September 2015
Liz Pinnock
The Companies Act 71 of 2008 (“the Act”) came into effect on 1 May 2011 bringing with it a number of significant changes.  The Act introduced, amongst other changes, the Memorandum of Incorporation (“MOI”) as the sole governing document of the company to replace the existing Memorandum and Articles of Association.
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Who's the boss? - Matters of control in terms of the Companies Act

25 September 2015
1. Introduction
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The Consumer Protection Act - Crossing the great divide

25 September 2015
The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (the “CPA”) as amended, has, for many industries, altered the way in which business is conducted, specifically within the arena of the supply of goods to customers.
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Maternity leave and pregnancy: Instalment 2

23 September 2015
Instalment 2: What are a pregnant employee’s legal obligations in declaring her pregnancy when a) applying for a job and b) telling her employer that she is pregnant?
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Maternity leave and pregnancy: Instalment 1

23 September 2015
Candice Eaton Gaul, Marc Humphries
Instalment 1: What laws protect a pregnant employee and what is such an employee protected against?
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