Business Law Focus

Many South Africans are increasingly looking to move money into offshore pension funds and into offshore trusts. In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth speaks to international tax expert Dr Albertus Marais, founder of AJM, on the risks and severe penalties of not reporting payments to offshore trusts and how SARS sees the offshore pension contribution as taxable.

In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Michael Hewson, founder and director of Graphene Economics on the potential impact of the moves towards a global minimum tax.

Since July 2021, 137 countries (accounting for more than 90% of the global economy) have signed a deal aimed at ensuring companies pay a global minimum tax rate of 15% and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), estimates this will generate $150 billion in additional global tax revenues annually. However, the jury is out on exactly how much of this will find its way into the coffers of an emerging market like South Africa. Could this be why only 23 African countries have signed the deal to date?

Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Era Gunning and Ridwaan Boda, executives at ENSafrica, on why it is time for a data protection health check, especially by those corporates who have been complacent on compliance. With the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA’s) first anniversary having come and gone on 1 July, a question that many organisations are beginning to ask is: “Have we done enough to comply?”

In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickwoth interviews Lerisha (Lee) Naidu, who has been appointed as Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg as of 1 July this year. With transformation of the legal sector high on the agenda, they discuss how gender gaps can be overcome in the profession.

In this edition of Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews ENS executives Andries Myburgh and Ntebaleng Sekabate on the opportunities and threats relating to mining exploration and specifically the urgent need for improved incentives to enhance investment. They speak at the conclusion of the recent Mining Indaba in Cape Town.

In the latest edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Johan Botes, Partner and Head of the Employment & Compensation Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg on the new Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace.

They discuss the key features of the new Code and also chat about why the new Code could be a timely slap in the face for bullies and sexual miscreants at work.

With South Africa's unemployment rate hitting record levels of over 35%, labour law reform is seen as a key avenue to help stimulate jobs and investment. This will, however, require political will and keener insights on the economic impact of policies. Host Evan Pickworth interviews Fritz Malan and Jan Norval from ENSafrica on the need for and progress on labour law reform in South Africa.

In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Michael Foundethakis, recently appointed Chair of the Africa Steering Committee at global law firm Baker McKenzie. Michael has a glass-half-full outlook for Africa, based on recent deal-making activity and success. While this positive outlook does not ignore the need for responsibility and bankability, Baker's prediction is that Africa could well be one of the only major regions to experience an acceleration of economic growth in 2022. This reflects a modest improvement on a difficult 2021 for much of the continent.

In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews tax executive from ENSafrica, Mmangaliso Nzimande, on what lies ahead in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s inaugural national budget speech on 23 February.

With the government set to walk a tightrope between reining in spending and generating revenue, all while a mountain of serviceable debt hangs like a sword of Damocles overhead, the road ahead is steep.

In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Cricket South Africa’s lead independent director, Steven Budlender SC. With the announcement of a disciplinary process against coach Mark Boucher leading to a veritable cacophony of commentary, Budlender SC explains the sound legal and governance rationale for the decision, including why Mr Boucher was not suspended. He also provides important updates on further steps and action CSA will be taking following the completion of the Social Justice and Nation-building hearings and submission of its report.