Business Law Focus
Episodes
Navigating Tariff Turbulence
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Avishkar Harriparsad, Partner, PKF Durban, about a new era of tariff turbulence,...
Getting paid to post? Here’s What SARS expects from influencers
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On 5 September 2025, the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) released a media statement reminding social media influencers of their obligation ...
South Africa’s VAT threshold: Why R1 million no longer adds up
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When introduced in 2009, the R1 million VAT threshold was generous. But inflation has eroded its real value. In this edition of Business Law Focus, ho...
Employment equity targets - should business be worried?
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Employment equity targets published by employment & labour minister Nomakhosazana Meth in April are facing a legal showdown in court. In this edition...
Restoring trust as global disorder reigns
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Milton Cheng, the Global Chair of Baker McKenzie, joins host Evan Pickworth to discuss how geopolitical dynamics and resilience influence legal approa...
Is tax by stealth firmly on the Budget agenda?
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Ntebaleng Sekabate and Charles de Wet, Executives in ENS's tax practice, to unpa...
Could "spam” marketing be a thing of the past in 2025?
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many South Africans have experienced the frustration of receiving countless spam calls or unsolicited e-mails and text messages urging them to buy pro...
Big business faces a global minimum tax to even the playing field
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Michael Hewson, founder and director of Graphene Economics. They discuss k...
SARS takes aim at non-profits in effort to exit greylist
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa was added to the dreaded "grey list" in February 2023 for weaknesses in its anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of te...
Mental health at work in the spotlight
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This year’s theme for World Mental Health day is ‘Mental health at work’. In this edition of Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth labour law e...
SA competition law after 25 years: But where to next?
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Jocelyn Katz, an Executive at ENS and Head in the Competition / Anti-Trust pract...
Fashion can be taxing
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fashion can be a taxing business and in this edition of Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Carlyn Frittelli Davies and Mansoor Parker f...
How IP law supports women empowerment
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Liézal Mostert from ENS’s Intellectual Property team. They discuss the role o...
What must still be done to live up to Nelson Mandela's human rights legacy
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, on Mandela Day, host Evan Pickworth interviews Natasha Wagiet, Pro Bono Manager overseeing ENS'CSI portfolio at...
Green shoots for SA’s junior miners
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus host, Evan Pickworth, interviews Mihlali Sitefane, founder of Sitef & Co. They discuss the future of junior min...
Nasty turn in corruption investigation at Fort Hare
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
While the University of Fort Hare buckles under the weight of corruption allegations and ongoing criminal investigations, Business Law Focus host Evan...
Youth Day and access to justice: Where to next?
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With SA’s youth unemployment rate not far off those in war zones, Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Natasha Wagiet, a Pro Bono Manag...
SMMEs: How to navigate legal red tape while on the hunt for funding
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Thabang Hleza, the Head of Investments at Masisizane, a non-profit funding...
‘Speak up’ culture serves notice on employers
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews a multijurisdictional panel of employment law experts from Baker McKenzie office...
SA Mining Law in the Spotlight
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many mineral and upstream petroleum law developments have occurred in the past year, with the sector dealing with change on many fronts. In this edit...
The good, bad and ugly of Budget 2024
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus host, Evan Pickworth speaks to tax experts from ENSafrica, Charles De Wet and Ntebaleng Sekabate, about the good...
M&A, PE trends to watch in 2024
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews joint heads of ENSafrica Corporate and Commercial, Doron Joffe and Julius Oosthu...
Legal Practice Council ramps up fight against errant lawyers
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews the Provincial Director of the Eastern Cape Office of the Legal Practice Council...
Rising tax risks of a mobile workforce
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth is joined by Michael Hewson, founder and director of Graphene Economics to discuss the tax ...
Future of race in recruitment, promotion and restructuring
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Director at Fluxmans, Lisa-Anne Schäfer-King, on the future of “race” in re...
Why SA languishes among bottom 10 for mining attractiveness
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Business Law & Tax host Evan Pickworth interviews Ntebaleng Sekabate and Andries Myburgh from ENSafrica ahead of this week’s Junior Mining Indaba ta...
Why a bot takeover of auditing is unlikely
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews PKF SA CEO and managing partner of PKF Octagon, Waldek Wasowicz, on whether a “bot” is likely to...
Rise of Climate Tech
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Ridwaan Boda, Executive in the Corporate Commercial practice at ENSafrica on the...
Rising tide of climate litigation
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The goal for the energy sector in SA is to move to 42% non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, but this is unlikely to be a smooth ride. Business Law Focus h...
How far does the ESG advice duty go?
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With all the noise around ESG investing it can be difficult for customers and their advisors to distil what is relevant. In this edition of Business L...
African dealmakers make up for lost time
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Angela Simpson, Lydia Shadrach-Razzino and Verushca Pillay, transactional lawyers...
Whistleblowers and the law - blowing in the wind
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Tendai Jangara, Director in the Dispute Resolution practice at Cliffe Dekker Hof...
What could lie ahead for South Africa in the 2023 budget speech
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, delivers his budget speech on 22 February and in this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan...
Where to next for SA's mining sector?
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With SA's crucial mining indaba taking place from 6-9 February, Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Ntsiki Adonisi-Kgame and Mihlali Sit...
Managing Power during COP27
21 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 27 grabbing global headlines, Business Law Focus Editor, Evan Pickworth, spoke to Mohamed Gh...
Greylisting – Too close to call
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Should South Africa not meet the international standard and compliance rules on money laundering as set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), it ...
SARS can search and seize your property without a warrant
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Business Law Focus host, Evan Pickworth speaks to Francis Mayebe, Candidate Attorney and Virusha Subban, Partner and Head of Tax, Baker McKenzie Johan...
Energy instability, weak infrastructure and policy uncertainty challenge miners
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Andries Myburgh, Ntabaleng Sekabate and Mansoor Parker from ENSafrica just ahead ...
Best ESG defence is a good offence
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth speaks to partners at Webber Wentzel, Sarah McKenzie and Maria Philippides about increasing...
Cross-border ESG due diligence rules in the spotlight
05 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the next edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Mansoor Parker, Executive in the tax practice at ENSafrica. The spotlight i...
Offshore trusts and pension funds are all the rage, but they have consequences
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many South Africans are increasingly looking to move money into offshore pension funds and into offshore trusts. In this edition of Business Law Focus...
Jury out on global minimum tax
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Michael Hewson, founder and director of Graphene Economics on the potential impa...
Time for a data protection health check
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews Era Gunning and Ridwaan Boda, executives at ENSafrica, on why it is time for a data protection healt...
Overcoming gender gaps in the legal profession
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickwoth interviews Lerisha (Lee) Naidu, who has been appointed as Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie...
What's needed to get SA's mining exploration investment on track
16 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus host Evan Pickworth interviews ENS executives Andries Myburgh and Ntebaleng Sekabate on the opportunities and th...
New Code a timely slap in the face for bullies in the workplace
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Johan Botes, Partner and Head of the Employment & Compensation Practice a...
What would SA's ideal labour law regime look like?
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With South Africa's unemployment rate hitting record levels of over 35%, labour law reform is seen as a key avenue to help stimulate jobs and investme...
African growth – the need to take responsibility
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Michael Foundethakis, recently appointed Chair of the Africa Steering Committee ...
10 Budget speech predictions
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews tax executive from ENSafrica, Mmangaliso Nzimande, on what lies ahead in Finance...
Cricket South Africa breaks the silence on the Boucher disciplinary
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Cricket South Africa’s lead independent director, Steven Budlender SC. With th...
The future of mandatory Covid-19 vaccination
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With vaccine rates remaining low in Africa and SA, the question of mandatory vaccines is high on the agenda early in 2022. In this edition of Business...
Worker Rights in the Gig Economy - More Questions Than Answers
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest edition of Business Law Focus, host Evan Pickworth interviews Executive in the Employment Law practice at ENS Africa, Dion Masher, on re...
Keep the taxman in mind when liquidating
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In terms of the Statistical Release on liquidations and insolvencies published by Statistics South Africa in July 2021, there has been a 21.5% increas...
The tug of war over VAT refunds
16 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Claiming and determining the veracity of VAT refunds is a perennial headache for both SARS and the taxpayer. In this edition of Business Law Focus, ho...
'Stablecoins' and the move to decentralised finance
20 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Business Law Focus Editor Evan Pickworth speaks to Ashlin Perumall, Partner in the Corporate/MA Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg and fellow ...
Global corporate taxes and efforts by SARS to improve collection capabilities
06 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus editor Evan Pickworth interviews Peter Dachs, tax executive at ENSafrica, on the new regime for global corporate...
What are the implications of the recently enacted Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act?
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Business Law Focus podcast, Editor Evan Pickworth interviews Janet MacKenzie and Darryl Bernstein, experts from global law firm...
What does the future hold for SA's labour market?
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With businesses and the economy caught in a whirlwind of strikes, protests, lock-outs and retrenchments - on top of trying to recover from Covid-19 lo...
Shifting patterns in Africa’s infrastructure funding
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Baker McKenzie’s latest report - New Dynamics: Shifting Patterns in Africa’s Infrastructure Funding - shows the state of the African infrastructur...
The future of trade
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the latest edition of Business Law Focus, Editor Evan Pickworth interviews ENSafrica’s Executive: Africa Regulatory and Business Intelligence, Ce...
Spotlight on political party funding
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of Business Law Focus, Editor Evan Pickworth unpacks the broad ramifications of the Political Party Funding Act with leading expert, D...
With the budget looming, what tax hikes can we expect
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the Budget looming large, Editor Evan Pickworth asks Tax Executive from ENSafrica, Kazi Mbangeleli, whether an increase in the corporate tax rat...
Why a wealth tax may not be on the cards
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the next episode of Business Law Focus we delve into the potential for extensive tax increases in the upcoming Budget. Editor Evan Pickworth is joi...
Seeking Mining Tax Certainty
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the next episode of Business Law Focus, which digs deeper into what can be expected in next month’s Budget. Editor Evan Pickworth intervi...
How to battle gender-based violence via the Disaster Management Act
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Gender-based violence (GBV) is an ongoing ill bedevilling society and it needs to be rooted out as a priority. To do this, collective action and a fir...
How the 'Internet Censorship' Act tramples constitutional rights
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Business Law Focus, Evan Pickworth asks Janet MacKenzie, a partner and head of the TMT industry group for the Johannesburg office o...
Ubuntu in Commercial Contracts: Professor Michael Katz and panel provide much-needed clarity
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this first in a series of Business Day Law & Tax podcasts, editor of the publication and admitted attorney, Evan Pickworth is joined by Chairperson...