Tag: CorporateGovernance

For businesses considering an acquisition, falling below South Africa’s mandatory merger notification thresholds might seem to mean one less regulatory hurdle to worry about. But that is not always the case. Recent developments show that smaller deals can still attract the attention of the Competition Commission, particularly where a transaction could affect competition or involves a business whose true value may not yet be reflected in its turnover or assets.

Most advice about selling a business focuses on the seller as an individual. It considers the founder, the entrepreneur, or the person whose name appears on the door. However, family businesses complicate that picture. The person sitting across the table from a buyer represents more than themselves. They represent a family. In my experience, family members rarely approach a sale with the same objectives.

Read our exclusive cover story titled - Operational resilience – adapting to geopolitical instability by Nashikta Angad, Movashan Moodley and Mishana Pillay, KPMG Southern Africa, plus a host of other topical management articles written by professionals, consultants and academics.

The latest regulatory action against a major financial institution resulted in a R28 million administrative penalty. The penalty followed shortcomings under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). It is a timely reminder that compliance cannot become a once-off exercise.

When people picture South Africa’s automotive industry, they still picture a factory floor filled with men in overalls. That image is out of date. Motor Industry Bargaining Council workforce data show that women now account for almost 95,000 employees across the organised automotive retail aftermarket. That represents about 30% of a workforce of nearly 317,000.

When organisations conduct due diligence on a new customer, supplier or business partner, they often feel reassured once they verify the basics. The company registration checks out, the directors are identified, and the necessary documentation has been collected. The onboarding process then moves forward with confidence.

The Companies Amendment Act provisions that took effect on 22 May 2026 introduce amendments to section 30 (annual financial statements), sections 30A and 30B (remuneration policies and remuneration reports), and section 166 (alternative dispute resolution) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be embraced, but deception should not be, and South African businesses should understand that Europe’s AI rules may apply even if they have no office in Europe.

South Africa has been fighting corruption with legislation that, frankly, lacked teeth. The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 (PRECCA) has long been the cornerstone of the country's anti-corruption framework - criminalising bribery, fraud and a broad range of corrupt conduct in both the public and private sectors. The law was there. The convictions, historically, were not. That is rapidly changing.

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).