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RCR season is here: What Directive 11 means for accountable institutions

Directive 11 and PCC 60 confirm the 2026 RCR as a binding high-stakes obligation. With multi-year data, Org ID-based submissions and strict goAML processes, accountable institutions must act to ensure accurate, timely compliance and avoid sanctions.
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Approved but unconnected: South Africa’s renewable energy paradox

For years, developers and lenders have complained that environmental authorisations take too long, cost too much, and hold up projects the country desperately needs. That criticism was once fair. It no longer is.
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Draft Guidance Note 7B: Sharper focus on proliferation financing, risk assessment and due diligence

The Financial Intelligence Centre has issued draft Guidance Note 7B for consultation, marking an important update to the current Revised Guidance Note 7A framework.
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Africa Business In Brief

issue 646
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Third-party payment providers at a regulatory crossroads

South Africa’s draft payment reforms bring third-party providers into a clearer, activity-based regime. Wider NPS access brings stricter authorisation, governance and compliance demands, making early readiness critically for TPPPs strategic planning.
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Premature summary judgment application: When a ‘plea’ does not constitute a valid plea

The Western Cape Division of the High Court has outlined what constitutes a valid plea under Rule 22 and confirmed that in the absence of such a plea a plaintiff’s summary judgment application under Rule 32 may be premature and not competent in law.
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Payments first: why the SARB is prioritising digital infrastructure over a retail CBDC

Rather than rushing to introduce a retail central bank digital currency, the SARB's current emphasis is on modernising the country’s existing payments infrastructure to make digital payments faster, cheaper and more inclusive.
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Junior Indaba 2026 ENSight

A curated collection of ENS insights exploring junior mining in Africa, covering regulation, investment and growth opportunities, with a focus on ASM formalisation and sustainable sector development.
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Pretoria High Court declares B-BBEE and race-based licensing requirements by the International Air Services Council unlawful

In a landmark decision the Gauteng Division of High Court in Pretoria ruled the International Air Services Council may not apply BBBEE or other race-based criteria when adjudicating licence applications under the International Air Services Act, 1993.
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Full steam ahead for South Africa’s rail legal architecture

South Africa's multi-operator rail legal framework is crystallising: RAAs concluded with 11 TOCs, TER operational, a Bill imminent and TRIM corporatised as a subsidiary, forming an integrated, comprehensive legal ecosystem for the rail sector.
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Two upgrades in 12 months: South Africa’s credit rating renaissance

Two sovereign upgrades in seven months signal a decisive shift in South Africa’s outlook, as fiscal discipline, reform momentum and resilience amid global volatility lower borrowing costs, expand capital access and reignite dealmaking across markets.
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Rwanda gazettes first law regulating virtual asset business

Rwanda’s new Law on virtual asset business creates a clear regulatory framework, balancing growth with strict AML and consumer safeguards. Licensing, oversight and tough penalties signal a decisive move to formalise and de-risk the country’s digital
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Uganda's tax interest regime under scrutiny: Recent judicial developments and implications for taxpayers and investors

Recent rulings by Uganda’s Constitutional Court highlight an imbalanced tax interest framework, where penalties accrue rapidly against taxpayers while refund interest is delayed, increasing dispute risk and creating uncertainty for business today
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To conciliate or not to conciliate

A recent ConCourt decision confirmed that where a facilitated large-scale retrenchment occurred, retrenched employees or their registered trade union need not refer unfair dismissal dispute to conciliation before approaching the Labour Court.
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FATF developments and relevance to the AfCFTA's financial crime risk landscape

African states advancing AfCFTA must align AML frameworks with evolving FATF standards as trade grows addressing risks fraud exposure and digital vulnerabilities through proactive coordinated reforms to safeguard financial integrity integration.
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ENSign: Who owns African prints? Heritage, identity and IP

03 Jun 2026
BY Carol Masego Makutu , Amina Abugdanpoka Kaguah AND Carmin Cornelius Who owns African prints? This podcast explores the heritage, commerce and copyright behind these much-loved textiles.

Legal bytes over coffee: Episode 4 | 2026

02 Jun 2026
BY Priyanka Raath A podcast where tech, media and telecoms law meets real conversation, one legal byte at a time.

ENS webinar | FONTS | Creative asset or IP risk?

27 May 2026
BY Gaelyn Scott , Dr. Bernard Dippenaar AND Janine Thomas Fonts are powerful, but are you using them correctly? Janine Thomas and Bernard Dippenaar unpack font licensing, legal risks and common pitfalls — with real case insights to help you protect your brand.
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ENS webinars | When is an operation a mine

27 May 2026
BY Willem le Roux , Pieter Colyn AND Celeste Coles When is an operation legally considered a mine and what does that mean for health and safety? Hosted by our MOHS experts, Pieter Colyn, with insights from Willem Le Roux and Celeste Coles.
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ENSign | Legal bytes over coffee: Episode 3 | 2026

28 Apr 2026
BY Priyanka Raath AND Dr. Bernard Dippenaar A podcast where tech, media and telecoms law meets real conversation, one legal byte at a time.

ENSign | Legal bytes over coffee: Episode 2 | 2026

12 Apr 2026
BY Priyanka Raath AND Linda Sheehan A podcast where tech, media and telecoms law meets real conversation, one legal byte at a time.

ENSign | Legal bytes over coffee: Episode 1 | 2026

31 Mar 2026
BY Ridwaan Boda AND Priyanka Raath A podcast where tech, media and telecoms law meets real conversation, one legal byte at a time.

South African Budget Speech 2026 Review

25 Feb 2026
BY Jenny Klein , Mansoor Parker , Ntebaleng Sekabate AND Charles de Wet Our annual South African budget speech webinar highlighting areas of legislative and policy focus and providing practical insights to assist stakeholders in preparing for the year ahead.
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ENSign | The Modern GC

23 Feb 2026
BY David A Asiedu David A. Asiedu, Executive in Ghana, chats to Abena Aboagyewaah Owusu, Legal Affairs Manager at ENI Ghana Exploration & Production Ltd and Nana Kofi Asare, Head of Legal for MTN about the evolving role of General Counsel

Pop-up webinar | Revised COMESA Competition Regulations, now in force

05 Feb 2026
BY Jocelyn Katz Jocelyn Katz, Head of Competition at ENS in conversation with Dr Willard Mwemba, Chief Executive Officer of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCC) where they discuss the revised COMESA Competition Regulations.
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ENSign: The business case for sustainability: Practical insights for African SMEs and beyond

09 Dec 2025
BY Carlyn Frittelli Davies , Jessica Blumenthal AND Melaney Oldenhof This episode unpacks why sustainability remains a compelling business strategy, especially for African SMEs. We explore concrete drivers, practical tools and real-world examples across fashion, agriculture, energy and export-orientated value chains.

The DRC Tax Reform Webinar

02 Dec 2025
BY Celia Becker , David Guarnieri AND Thomas Jolivet An in-depth discussion on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Tax Reform.
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Taxation Laws Amendment Bill Webinar

19 Nov 2025
BY Kristel van Rensburg , Magda Snyckers , Nicolette Smit , Ntebaleng Sekabate , Simon Weber , Stephan Minne AND Charles de Wet In this webinar, our experts unpacked the proposed amendments to the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill following the public participation process.
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From Conflict to Consensus | Navigating Tax Disputes in Africa

14 Nov 2025
BY Andries Myburgh , Celia Becker , Cletus Danliar Banseh , Dieudonné Nzafashwanayo , Phillip Karugaba , George Muthee AND Shrivan Dabee ENS tax experts share strategies to manage the full dispute lifecycle, from audit readiness to resolution - helping businesses protect value, reduce uncertainty, and achieve faster outcomes.
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ENSign: A fresh lens on food waste

04 Nov 2025
BY Carlyn Frittelli Davies , Sonam Mansingh AND Steffen Burrows Hear how South Africa is tackling food loss and waste, and how its approach compares to the EU. From policy to business and social impact, we unpack the challenges, innovations and opportunities shaping sustainable food systems.
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