Hijab-wearing policy at top Jo'burg girls' school in the spotlight

Amendments to provisions on third-party backed shares

Both sections 8E and 8EA of the ITA are anti-avoidance provisions which effectively deem any dividends received on certain instruments to be income in the hands of the recipient unless, under certain circumstances, the shares were issued for or applied for a “ qualifying purpose ”.

Agriculture, food security, and the regulation of GMOs in Kenya

The past year has been an eventful one for food security matters in Kenya. Following successive failed rainy seasons, the country has faced one of the worst droughts in years. This has seen increased focus on the applicability of science and technology to address the challenge and help the country build resilience against climate change.

"All parents of whatever stripe": Changing the landscape of parental and maternity leave

On 25 October 2023, the Gauteng High Court per Sutherland DJP handed down judgment declaring the provisions of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, 75 of 1997 ("BCEA") relating to maternity-,parental-, adoption- and commissioning parental leave and the relevant provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act, 63 of 2001 ("UIA") unconstitutional and invalid for falling foul of the rights to equality and dignity in terms of sections 9 and 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996("Constitution"). 

Overview of the (r)evolution of legislation governing the use of cannabis: Where to from here?

Cannabis has been a hot topic in the media and bold statements have been made by the Government regarding the economic potential that the cannabis sector can unlock in the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa has referred to the potential revenue that could be created in the sector on two separate occasions during his annual State of the Nation Address. It has also been highlighted that industrial hemp and cannabis will create a pathway to industrialisation by having a ripple effect through to various other sectors such as foreign investment, agriculture, employment and construction. Although the Government’s stated intention to relax and review policies that hinder the growth of the industry is appreciated, South Africa is at a crossroads when it comes to competing with international cannabis industries developed within a regulatory framework.

Companies to take heed of mounting climate change litigation risks, advises Alecia Pienaar, Counsel in our Environmental Law practice during a eNCA interview.

Missed opportunities: The implications of squandering a disciplinary hearing

In employer-employee workplace tales, a person decrying unfair termination is a common scenario. But what about the instances where the employee had a chance to tell their side of the story in a disciplinary hearing, but they let it slip away? This is the story in the case of Okun v Kenyatta University (Cause 363 of 2019) where the employee sought a declaration from the court that his employment was terminated unfairly. The twist is that the employer had extended two invitations to the employee to appear before a disciplinary committee, which were postponed at the request of the employee. Thereafter, it sent a third invitation which the employee refused to honour entirely. What is the implication of squandering the termination process in thisway?