Tag: compliance

Governance conversations everywhere - in boardrooms, conferences, and social platforms - are often punctuated by phrases such as “best practice”, “governance with purpose” and “future-ready boards.” Yet good intentions alone rarely change outcomes.

For many taxpayers, especially expatriates, managing South African tax obligations from a distance can be complicated. Years may pass without any direct interaction with the South African Revenue Service (SARS). During that time, key details such as contact information, banking details and tax number status often become outdated.

South Africa’s Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEAA) came into effect on 1 September 2025. This followed the Gauteng High Court’s dismissal of an urgent application to halt its implementation. The government aims to enforce sectoral targets on race and gender representation to accelerate transformation. However, beneath the policy rhetoric lies a complex reality that many employers, particularly in manufacturing, will struggle to manage.

Just a few years ago, neobanks and fintechs were regarded as disruptive competitive threats to incumbent Financial Institutions (FIs). Now, the script has changed. These startups and innovators are viewed as potential merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities or as partners for larger banks.

Regulation is meant to protect customers, curb risk and keep businesses accountable. However, too often, today’s laws do the opposite. They create impossible trade-offs, criminalise good-faith defenders and punish organisations that try to do the right thing.

The Supreme Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Assmang (Pty) Ltd vs The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has sent a clear and sobering message to taxpayers. In tax law, substance always trumps form. While this principle is not new, its application in the context of diesel refunds highlights the immense peril taxpayers face. The Assmang diesel refund case illustrates this danger vividly.

Conversations on board leadership often focus on strategy, oversight, and navigating risk and uncertainty. These remain timeless pillars of effective governance. At the same time, these discussions highlight that strong boards are vital for steering organisations through complexity while upholding fiduciary duties.

South Africa’s long-awaited Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) system takes effect on 1 December 2025. It changes how every motorist and fleet operator manages traffic fines. We are warning drivers to prepare now for stricter unpaid fine penalties. Drivers must also be ready for the possibility of losing driving privileges under the new demerit system.

Companies are struggling to take the first step into Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, there is a way around the overwhelm. AI has become the corporate obsession of 2025. From the explosion of ChatGPT to the everyday integration of tools like Microsoft Copilot, companies echo with conversations.

Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) are not new in the automation and control industry. They are also not new in many adjacent industries. However, they remain one of the most important aspects for any business that relies on complex automation, control, and electrical systems.