Management

A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) creates a protected space in which parties can exchange commercially sensitive information. Yet a few apparently innocuous words dealing with information retained in “unaided memory” may materially reduce that protection. In extreme cases, they may undermine the commercial purpose of the NDA itself.

From hot flushes in the boardroom to violence at home, some of the experiences affecting women’s working lives remain difficult to say out loud. We believe employers need to create workplaces where those conversations can happen without embarrassment, judgement or fear. I have seen how easily a woman can sit in a meeting when a hot flush begins.

King V reframes corporate governance as a competitive necessity. It embeds Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors and integrated thinking at the heart of board decision-making. The question boardrooms across South Africa are now facing is what this framework demands in practice when it comes to overseeing Artificial Intelligence (AI).

White-collar crime in Africa is no longer a predominantly domestic concern. It has expanded onto an international stage, and so has the corporate exposure that comes with it. As capital crosses borders, data moves at the speed of light, and corporate structures become more complex, economic crime has kept pace. It has become more sophisticated, more multinational and increasingly difficult to investigate and prosecute within the confines of a single legal system.

In the first revision since 2017, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), Parks Tau, has gazetted amendments to the merger notification thresholds and filing fees. The amendments took effect on 1 May 2026. The amendments, published on 8 May 2026, confirm the previously proposed draft thresholds and filing fees, as set out below. The changes mark a significant adjustment to South Africa’s merger control regime.

There is a moment in most disputes when emotion overtakes economics. Pride digs in. Letters become sharper. Threats of court proceedings follow. Yet, by the time a matter reaches trial, the real question often lingers in the background: was the game worth the candle?

After a measured few years, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity has regained momentum in South Africa. The country, in fact, led the continent in deal value in 2025. It accounted for roughly 35% of Africa’s total M&A value. Meanwhile, inbound deal value rose by over 40%, and outbound activity increased by nearly 85% year on year.

Somewhere between the third Wi-Fi troubleshooting call of the week and an unnecessary standoff over the cleaning rota, South Africa’s most capable leaders are quietly becoming something they never applied for: facilities managers. A new trend has emerged in 2026. It goes by the name of conscious unbossing. I think it is about time we embraced it locally.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) cannot grow without access to funding, and South Africa needs its SMEs to grow. What needs to change in the middle? The frame for South Africa’s economic growth in 2026 is one of modest recovery. The National Treasury’s 2026 Budget Review projects real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of around 1.6%. The World Bank echoes these figures, at 1.4%, and expects growth to increase to 1.5% by 2027.

There is a pattern emerging across boardrooms that is starting to look very familiar. Executives are excited about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Budgets are being allocated. Pilot projects are being launched. Early results are often promising. Yet, despite all this activity, very few organisations are seeing meaningful, enterprise-wide impact.