South African legal developments

The notice invites interested parties to submit written representations concerning possible adjustments to the national minimum wage. It says the National Minimum Wage Commission will publish its annual report and recommendations later in 2026, and that a survey questionnaire is also available for participation.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has published a notice about applications to transfer ownership of Individual Electronic Communications Service and Individual Electronic Communications Network Service licences from Jacques Louis Dodd t/a Hantamnet to ABT Connect (Pty) Ltd. The notice says the applications will be assessed against competition, consumer interests, and historically disadvantaged persons equity ownership, and that the documents will be open for inspection. Interested parties are invited to submit written representations within fourteen working days from publication of the notice. The applicant may respond in writing within twenty-eight working days from publication.

The notice records a decision by the South African Reserve Bank to forfeit R49 375.06 held in a Nedbank account standing to the credit of Mr Li Chen. It says the amount, together with any interest or other accrual, is forfeited to the State on publication of the notice in the Gazette and will be deposited into the National Revenue Fund.

The notice records an application under section 58(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 for variation of the registered scope of a bargaining council. It says the application was received from the Statutory Council for the Squid and Other Fisheries of South Africa and sets out the existing and proposed scopes, together with representativeness figures. It also invites written objections within 30 days of the date of the notice.

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa has received applications for the transfer of control of Dakota Software Services’ Individual Electronic Communications Service and Individual Electronic Communications Network Service licences to SMSPortal. The notice says the application will be assessed against competition, consumer interests and HDP equity ownership, and that interested parties are invited to make written representations.

SAFlii has listed this judgment: Gutsche Investment & Management Company (Pty) Ltd v Renocare Service Centers (Pty) Ltd and Another (2025/041536) [2026] ZAWCHC 401 (5 August 2026).

The judgment concerns three linked applications brought by Firstrand Bank Limited, being liquidation applications against Gcina Farm Proprietary Limited and Gcina Property Management Proprietary Limited, and a money judgment claim against related sureties. The court recorded the loan and suretyship arrangements, the alleged defaults, and the parties' later payment of arrears. It then made a costs order against Gcina Farm, Gcina Property, Mr Kheswa and Mrs Kheswa at attorney and client scale.

The High Court dealt with a dispute about whether a former Commissioner for Gender Equality could be paid for accumulated leave. The judgment says Commissioners for Gender Equality are public office bearers, not employees, and that the Commission’s leave policy could not lawfully treat them as employees for leave purposes. The court made the settlement agreement an order of court and declared that Commissioners for Gender Equality may not lawfully accumulate leave in terms of the Commission’s leave policy.

SAFlii has listed this judgment: City of Cape Town v Pro Khaya Construction CC (Appeal) (A39/2026) [2026] ZAWCHC 396 (5 August 2026).

The matter concerns an application by Mr Nazeer Ahmad for a mandamus directing the respondents to issue him with a South African identity document. The court considered a request by the respondents for a postponement after new information came to light about whether the applicant may already have a South African identity number.

The High Court considered an application for leave to appeal in a matter involving Henry Emeka Iheanacho and the University of Johannesburg. The court said the applicant sought to appeal a judgment and order of 2 April 2026, but refused leave to appeal and dismissed the application with costs.

SAFlii has listed this judgment: FPG Holdings (Pty) Ltd v Voila Beauty Boutique and Others (2026/010115) [2026] ZAWCHC 395 (5 August 2026).

SAFlii has listed this judgment: George NO v Tjoms Uniforms CC (2025/101071) [2026] ZAGPPHC 827 (5 August 2026).

This proclamation amends the terms of reference of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system. It replaces paragraph 13 to set out dates for an interim report, a second interim report, a final report, and a 45 day winding down phase after the final report.

The notice invites interested parties to submit written representations about possible adjustments to the national minimum wage. It says the National Minimum Wage Commission will publish its annual report and recommendations later in 2026, and that a survey questionnaire is also provided to assist with analysis and report writing.

The judgment records two automatic review matters from the Western Cape High Court. It says the conviction and sentence of Christopher Andries were confirmed, Abduraaf Abrahams’s conviction and sentence were set aside, and Lwando Msimelelo’s conviction was replaced with housebreaking with intent to steal and attempted theft, while his sentence was confirmed.