Directors face potential liability for climate change risks
Directors face potential liability if they fail to carry out their fiduciary duties to curb climate change risks and do not make complete disclosures about climate-related risks, write Merlita Kennedy, partner and Tobia Serongoane, associate from Webber Wentzel....
Compliance is not a compromise
Data Privacy Day, took place on 28 January, is an international annual event that highlights the importance of data protection and compliance in a high-risk world. The World Bank describes it as an international focus on the ‘importance of respecting privacy,...
Certification provides assurance
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) conducts a range of tests against South African National Standards (SANS), as well as customer specific requirements and/or testing against compulsory specifications that may be issued for certain product categories. The...
Data management and protection strategy vital to ensure PoPIA compliance
Data management and protection can be a complex task, and a ‘one size fits all’ approach cannot be applied for every organisation. By Gary Allemann, MD of Master Data Management With volumes of data increasing at an alarming rate, having a clear, well-defined data...
Proposed model and legislation for an APA Programme in SA
SARS has published a draft model and proposed legislation to establish an advance pricing agreement programme and is inviting comments on it by the end of January. By Karen Miller, consultant, and Joon Chong, partner at Webber Wentzel In 2020, SARS released a draft...
SA now enforcing Cybercrimes Act
Although President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Cybercrimes Bill into law, only parts came into effect from 1 December 2021. "It is important to spell out the dos and don'ts of the new Cybercrimes Act and it's everyone's interest to familiarise themselves the with...
Will the Cybercrimes Act change how you use the Internet?
With the arrival of the festive season comes new legislation, and a new weapon in the fight against cybercriminals. On 1 December, several elements of South Africa's new Cybercrimes Act came into effect, six months after President Cyril Ramaphosa first signed the bill...
Standard Bank partners with FRDM on supply chain transparency
Standard Bank Group has partnered with US-based technology platform, FRDM, via the Group's OneHub platform, to help corporates assess and address environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks within their supply chain. The solution will help companies build...
Don’t let form trump corporate governance substance
More laws and regulations are not going to solve the many problems business - and the country - face. Only changed behaviour will do that. By Parmi Natesan, CEO of the Institute of Directors in South Africa (IoDSA) Reading through the proposed amendments to the...
Compliant companies make more money
The need for compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPIA) has placed the spotlight firmly on data management as a core component of compliance. By Chris de Bruyn, ops director and head of compliance at Gabsten With PoPIA coming into effect,...
How POPIA impacts your business
Cloud computing, the shift to digital experiences, and connected sensors have made it possible for companies to collect and process vast amounts of data around consumers - often to their benefit. For many companies, data is their most valuable asset. By Charl Venter,...
New VAT and customs obligations for online marketplaces
The global economy has recently seen a rapid rise in online marketplaces and platforms, whereby sellers can easily connect and transact with buyers. By Prenisha Martin, tax associate at Baker McKenzie Johannesburg This substantial increase in digitisation has led to a...