Anja began her career as a candidate attorney with Hofmeyr Herbstein and Gihwala (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr) in 2002. In 2004 she was appointed as an associate and promoted to senior associate in 2005. In 2007 she became a director. Anja specialises in commercial dispute resolution (litigation, arbitrations, and mediations), regulatory and administrative law matters across various industries, product liability and group or class actions.

General Experience

• Commercial dispute resolution processes (litigation, arbitrations and mediations) in the following sectors:
  • Telecommunications and broadcasting
  • Energy and chemicals
  • Media
  • Minerals and mining
  • Gambling
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements applicable in the communications and broadcasting sector
• Representing clients in dealings with various regulatory bodies, including ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of South Africa), the NCC (the National Consumer Commission), SAICA (South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Gambling Boards of various provinces

Anja has been involved in a number of matters, including the following:

General litigation

• Representing a major mining company in a group action by ex-employees claiming damages for illnesses (coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, chronic obstruction pulmonary disease, etc) contracted whilst in Sasol Mining's employ, allegedly due to the failure by Sasol to comply with statutory obligations.
• Representing a chemical company in defending a product liability claim of approx. ZAR 165 million, arising from the sale of allegedly defective wax products used in the manufacture of matches.
• Represented a major oil company in arbitration proceedings against a leading Bank, where the company called on payment guarantees issued for petroleum products delivered to third parties in the amount of approx. ZAR 400 million. The Bank denied liability on the basis that the guarantees were fraudulently issued by one of its employees. We secured a settled in favour of our client of an amount close to the amount claimed
• Represented a fertilizer manufacturer with regards to an action instituted farmers in a claim for damages against Sasol resulting from alleged contraventions of the Competition Act.
• Mediation proceedings between two major mining companies regarding contractual obligations relating to the supply of coal
• Acting for a cement manufacturer in a business interruption claim against insurers
• Represented Vodacom in an insurance claim relating to stolen airtime.

Telecommunications and Broadcasting

• Represented Vodacom in various legal reviews of legislation and regulations, including the Call Termination Regulations and the Number Portability Regulations
• Represented Vodacom in various review applications launched by parties in relation to the radio frequency spectrum auction held in 2021 (in 2016, 2020 and 2021)
• Represented Vodacom in relation to Telkom and other MNOs regarding facilities leasing and infrastructure sharing disputes before ICASA and in South African courts (two reported cases where Vodacom was successful in the SCA and further appeals rejected)
• Advised a number of telecommunications companies on various aspects of regulatory compliance in respect of their business, agreements and licensing issues, as well as regulatory issues in certain African countries:
  • Submissions of a legal, economic and policy nature pertaining to amendments to legislation and regulations on the telecommunications side
  • Submissions in inquiries conducted by ICASA, including the Priority Markets Inquiry and the Mobile Broadband Services Inquiry
  • Regulatory advice in respect of various transactions with other mobile operators.
  • Regulatory advice in respect of the roll out of networks
  • Advice regarding regulatory requirements, landing rights and licencing issues relevant to undersea cables

Consumer matters

• Acted for a local wine producer in attending to a worldwide recall of wine products and engaging with the NCC regarding glass fragments found in bottled wine
• Represented various parties in their dealings with the NCC relating to promotions and competitions

• The Legal 500 EMEA 2015 recommended Anja Hofmeyr for dispute resolution.
• Anja was listed in the Legal 500 Private Practice Arbitration Powerlist: Africa 2023.

Publications

• Anja contributed to 'The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Class & Group Actions 2016', 8^th edition.
• Anja has made written contributions to ICLG - The international Comparative Guide to: Class & Group Actions 2016. A practical cross-border insight into class and group actions work.
• Anja has made written contribution to ICLG - The International Comparative Legal Guide to: Class and Group Actions 2018. A practical cross-border insight into class and group actions work.

Education

• Enrolled with the Legal Practice Council
• BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
• Part LLM, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam (exchange programme)
• LLM (Corporate Law), University of Pretoria: 2003
• Year of admission as an attorney: 2004
• Dip (Telecommunications Law), 2005
• Dip (Administrative Law), 2010
• Training in the US on defending class actions – 2010 - 2015