A MINING MAKE-OVER IN PROGRESS?

03 May, 2021
In his recent keynote address to the platinum group metals industry, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe (the Minister) indicated that South Africa aims to increase the country’s share of global exploration expenditure to at least three per cent in the next five years. This is obviously laudable. According to data published by … Read more

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION l INVESTMENT AND EXTRACTIVES IN SUDAN: INSIGHTS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS l 29 APRIL 2021

28 April, 2021
The German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein) in collaboration with Fund for Peace (FFP) are cordially inviting you to a joint HUMAN RIGHTS & BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE Investment and Extractives in Sudan: Insights and Implications for Human Rights on April 29th 2021(2:00 pm – 4:00 pm CEST). Sudan is currently a country in transition. In 2019, a popular … Read more

SOUTH AFRICANS WILL DRAW THE SHORT END OF THE STICK IN EXPROPRIATION

01 April, 2021
The debated constitutional amendment will create an arbitrary hierarchy of standards, in which South Africans sit at the very bottom Parliament is debating two bills, one amending the property clause (section 25) of the constitution and another replacing the 1975 Expropriation Act to allow the state to take “land and any improvements thereon” without any … Read more

MEDIA COMMENT BY PETER LEON (PARTNER AND AFRICA CO-CHAIR AT HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS) | 2021 STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS

11 February, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the South African economy. According to the World Bank’s most recent Global Economic Prospects Report (published last month; here) South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) likely contracted by 7.8 per cent in 2020. This is three times more than the average contraction experienced in other Emerging … Read more

AN INTERVIEW WITH HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS LLP DISCUSSING M&A IN AFRICA

05 February, 2021
Lexology GTDT Market Intelligence provides a unique perspective on evolving legal and regulatory landscapes. This interview is taken from the M&A volume featuring discussion and analysis of legal developments, keynote deals as well as an insight into typical transactions within key jurisdictions worldwide. 1. What trends are you seeing in overall activity levels for mergers … Read more

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS ADVISES THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA ON ITS NEW MINERAL LAW REGIME, A GAME CHANGER FOR THE SECTOR

27 January, 2021
Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has advised the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on the entire suite of implementing regulations and guidelines supporting the recently promulgated New Mining Investment Law, 2020 (the New Law) which came into effect in January 2021. The mineral law reform programme forms part of the Kingdom … Read more

NEW EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CEMAC REGULATION

24 November, 2020
On November 5th, the Governor of the Central Bank for Central African States (the “BEAC”) issued a decision to extend the moratorium period granted to extractive companies to comply with CEMAC Regulation No. 02/18/CEMAC/UMAC/CM relating to foreign exchange (the “New CEMAC Regulation”) until 31 December 2021. This is rather good news for mining and petroleum … Read more

AfCFTA PROTOCOL MUST PROVIDE A FAIR REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTION FOR INVESTORS

13 October, 2020
Authors: Peter Leon, Ernst Muller and Natasha Rachwal Negotiators have an opportunity to fashion a regime that supports modern investment policies by promoting sustainable development.  With less than three months before the expected conclusion of negotiations on the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) protocol on investment increasing attention is being paid to the protocol’s … Read more