Mohammed Saib

Director

Mohammed Saib is a Director in our Banking, Finance & Projects practice. He has extensive experience acting as transactional counsel on complex local and cross-border financing matters across multiple African jurisdictions, including Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania and Lesotho. His work spans programme establishments and updates, note issuances, amendment and restatement processes (including noteholder consent processes), and debt restructurings.

Mohammed advises across a broad range of financing products, including leverage finance, secured funding structures and distressed lending transactions. He regularly advises South African state-owned entities and municipalities on borrowings and funding arrangements in compliance with the Public Finance Management Act, Municipal Finance Management Act, Insurance Act and Solvency Assessment and Management requirements. His experience also includes advising on the issuance of regulatory capital instruments in accordance with the Banks Act.

+27 (0)11 562 1567

mohammed.saib@cdhlegal.comJohannesburg

About Mohammed

Mohammed’s expertise has been recognised through industry accolades, including nominations for dedication to pro bono work and recognition for his role as adviser on award-winning bond and real estate finance transactions. His practice reflects strong technical capability, commercial insight, and a proven ability to deliver on high-value and regulated finance matters.

Mohammed joined CDH in November 2024.

Areas of expertise

Banking, Finance & Projects Corporate Debt, Turnaround & Restructuring

Debt Capital Markets

Experience

The government of eswatini (as Issuer) and Absa bank limited (as Arranger and Initial Dealer) in connection with the establistment by the Issuer of its Limited ZAR 4 billion Medium Term Programme.
Transnet limited (as issuer) and the government of the republic of south africa in connection with the issuance and placement of a ZAR 7 billion fixed rate note.
Advised Woolworths Holdings (as issuer), Woolworths (as guarantor), Rand Merchant Bank (as manager), and The Standard Bank of South Africa acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking Division (as manager), on the issue establishment of the issuer’s ZAR 10 billion DMTN programme.
We advised GrowthPoint Properties (the issuer) on the issuances of ZAR 300 million senior unsecured floating rate notes due 9 March 2023 (GRT24G), ZAR 240 million senior unsecured floating rate notes due 9 March 2025 (GRT25G), and ZAR 560 million senior unsecured floating rate notes due 9 March 2028 (GRT26G), under its ZAR 20 billion domestic medium term note programme.
AECI Limited (as Issuer) and Rand Merchant Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Limited in the Republic of South Africa (as Arranger and Initial Dealer) in connection with the Update by the Issuer of the AECI Limited ZAR 5 billion Domestic Medium Term Programme.

Recognition

Chambers Global 2026 ranked Mohammed as Up & Coming in Capital Markets: Debt.
IFLR1000 2025 recognised Mohammed as a 'notable practitioner' in Capital markets: Debt.
ProBono.Org Award Nominee for “Most dedicated and committed lawyer”
Adviser on Local Currency SSA Bond Deal of the Year
Adviser on Real Estate Finance Deal of the Year

Credentials

Education

LLB Law (Summa Cum Laude)
Practice Management Training Course
Registered with the Legal Practice Council

LANGUAGES

English

News

Banking, Finance & Projects

Out with the old, in with the new: transitioning from JIBAR to ZARONIA

The Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate (JIBAR) will be replaced by a new benchmark rate, the South African Rand Overnight Index Average (ZARONIA). While no formal announcement has...

Firm News

CDH South Africa appoints respected Mohammed Azad Saib to its accomplished Banking, Finance & Projects practice

Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), a leading corporate and commercial law firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mohammed Azad Saib as a Director in the Banking, Finance & Projects...

All articles by Mohammed