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The convergence of COVID-19 and force majeure
As the global community is grappling with COVID-19 and its ramifications, parties to commercial agreements have not been spared from panic in...
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Friends And Family May Turn To Foes – Be Careful Who You Appoint As An Executor
There are only two things in life that are inevitable, death and taxes. Taxes are debatable however death will come knocking on each and every one of our doors at some point in our life. This article is about making wise and responsible decisions prior to your death to ensure that you appoint an...
Covid-19: B-BBEE and the Solidarity Response Fund in South Africa
On Monday 23 March President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of a Solidarity Response Fund to which South African businesses, organisations and individuals, and members of the international community, can contribute. A question has arisen about whether or not contributions to the...
Do flexible and remote working arrangements constitute a cybersecurity threat?
The era of the millennial workforce and the rise in technology and connectivity has required a dynamic shift toward flexible and/or remote working arrangements in South African corporate spaces. These flexible working arrangements, which are designed to depart from the notion that employees need...
What does the lockdown mean for current litigation matters?
On 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a nationwide lockdown commencing at midnight on 26 March 2020. In terms of the lockdown, everyone is to be confined to their homes for 21 days, save for certain workers involved in providing essential services. But what does all of this mean...
South African Labour Legislation and the Gig Economy: The Uber Case
In recent years, the world has seen a marked growth in a sub-category of the services sector which is often referred to as the “gig” or “collaborative” economy. It derives its name from the ad hoc nature of the work performed and is, by and large, a technologically driven environment in which...
Panic Is Close Second To The Corona Curse
It is understandable that business owners feel panicky because of the toll Corona is taking on business income. However, many businesses realise that if they implement wholesale retrenchments they will not only lose valuable skills but will also reduce the buying power of the public. This would...
Permits required for persons leaving home to perform essential services during South African lockdown
Further regulations regarding the implementation of South Africa’s Covid-19 lockdown were released on the evening of 25 March, just over a day before the lockdown takes effect at 24:59 on 26 March. The lockdown applies to everyone within the borders of South Africa, and seeks to slow the spread...
Guide to UIF and other Covid-19 options (UPDATED: 30 March 2020)
Much confusion has arisen with the introduction of the Covid-19 temporary employee / employer relief scheme (C19 TERS), previously referred to as a “National Disaster Benefit”, in terms of a directive that was gazetted on 26 March 2020. But C19 TERS is not the only UIF relief option available in...
Mediation between landlords and tenants – a critical tool now?
Some definitions of mediation include "an intervention in a dispute in order to resolve it” or “intervention in a process or relationship. ” The critical difference is that the process is not as formal as litigation or arbitration. Also, it is not an adversarial process; this means that there is...
Spoor & Fisher is The Best Lawyers™ “Law Firm of the Year” 2020
Leading International Intellectual Property law firm Spoor & Fisher is proud to announce that it has been named the Best Lawyers international Law Firm of The Year 2020 for Intellectual Property, an accolade it has won twice this decade. The respected “Law Firm of the Year" is determined based on...
Draft Regulations For Trade Exposure Allowance And The Draft Regulations For The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity Benchmarks
On 2 December 2019 the Department of National Treasury, in terms of the Carbon Tax Act 15 of 2019, published the draft Regulations for Trade Exposure Allowance (for purposes of section 10 of the Act) and the draft Regulations for the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Intensity Benchmarks (for...
Covid-19 tax relief measures and time concessions
National Treasury issued the Explanatory Notes on Covid-19 Tax Measures on 29 March 2020. The notes expand on the exceptional fiscal package outlined by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his speech on 23 March 2020. Draft tax bills on these measures should be circulated for comment by 1 April 2020. In...
What compensation can you get if you contract Coronavirus at work?
On 23 March 2020, the Compensation Commissioner published, by way of Government Gazette, a ‘Notice on Compensation for Occupational-Acquired Novel Corona Virus Diseases (COVID-19). The Notice came into effect on 23 March 2020. In order to qualify, the occupational acquired COVID-19 disease...
