Tatham Wilkes Inc.

Home
South Africa
Pietermaritzburg
Tatham Wilkes Inc.

Tatham Wilkes inc. is a prominent law firm based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.

The objective of the firm is to combine over 100 years of years of experience in law with the most current legal thinking, in order to provide each of our clients with innovative, practical and cost-effective legal solutions. It is the firm's vision to ensure that its personnel – whether professional, clerical or administrative – are committed to providing excellent service to its clients. The fir

m understands that it is necessary to remain at the forefront of legal developments in order to provide clients with the best possible and most innovative service and advice. Additionally, the firm remains abreast of opportunities and threats that may affect the business and acts proactively to ensure that despite ongoing regulatory changes, the firm is always positioned to provide appropriate legal advice to its clients. Focusing on its human capital, the firm emphasizes the development of professional and clerical staff in order to ensure innovative, efficient and positive administration of all legal matters.

04/09/2026

AI is rewriting the M&A playbook

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is no longer a technology that businesses experiment with. Globally, AI adoption is accelerating, and recent data suggest that most companies are either already using AI or actively planning its implementation, with many reporting measurable gains in productivity and revenue. This shift is also reshaping how mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) are evaluated, negotiated and concluded in South Africa. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in business operations, M&A transactions must evolve to treat AI not only as a strategic asset but also as a practical tool that influences the transaction process itself.

Read more :

AI is changing both what gets bought in mergers & acquisitions and how deals get done.

02/09/2026

When levies rise: What owners must know

In South Africa, levies in sectional title and similar community schemes are the cornerstone of funding for maintenance, operations, insurance, and future repairs. However, when levies are increased, particularly when the increases appear excessive, owners often struggle to understand how they are regulated and what rights they have under the law.

Read more :

What every sectional title owner should understand before paying more.

31/08/2026

Balancing the digital economy

The Competition Commission published its final report on the Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry (MDPMI) toward the end of 2025. The inquiry signals a significant regulatory intervention in the relationship between local media organisations, global digital platforms, and the digital advertising economy. Far more than a technical market exercise, the MDPMI addresses fundamental questions concerning the sustainability of South Africa’s news media sector and the future shape of competition in digital markets. Its findings and remedial measures point to a decisive shift in how competition law will be applied to platform-driven sectors in the years ahead.

Read more :

A regulatory turning point reshaping digital advertising, platform power and the future of local media.

28/08/2026

Regulating tomorrow’s financial services, today

Modern technology now allows you to manage your money without ever stepping into a bank. No queues, no paperwork - just a few taps on your phone. That’s Fintech.

Read more :

South Africa’s fintech landscape is evolving, and regulation is keeping pace.

26/08/2026

Litigation costs, simplified

Civil litigation costs refer to the legal expenses involved in initiating and pursuing a lawsuit or application. These costs include, for example, the issuing of summons, the drafting of affidavits, pleadings, and notices exchanged between the parties until the court ultimately grants an order.

Read more :

Winning a case doesn’t mean winning the bill. Learn how litigation costs really work.

24/08/2026

Gig work: The legal reality

In a country burdened by high unemployment, rising living costs, and limited formal job opportunities, the gig economy has emerged as a flexible and often necessary response to economic exclusion. To avoid unemployment and secure a basic income, many South Africans have turned to e-hailing services, food delivery platforms, freelancing, virtual assistance, online tutoring, and a wide range of digital service marketplaces.

Read more :

Flexible work comes with legal responsibility. Employers, know the risks.

21/08/2026

SARS raises the penalty bar

National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service (“SARS”) intend to introduce significant amendments to sections 222 and 223 of the Tax Administration Act 28 of 2011 (“TAA”) during 2026. These changes will materially affect the application of understatement penalties and the availability of the bona fide inadvertent error defence. Importantly, the focus will shift away from the taxpayer’s intention or state of mind and toward the quantum of the understatement and the reasonableness of the taxpayer’s conduct.

Read more :

Claiming a bona fide error may soon be far more difficult.

19/08/2026

Culture vs style: When workplace dress codes cross the line

Dress codes are a familiar part of many workplaces, yet employers often fail to calibrate how far they are allowed to go in regulating employee personal appearance. While employers may enforce standards of neatness, safety and professionalism, these rules cannot override constitutional rights, nor can they operate in a discriminatory manner. A recent reminder of this emerged from the Supreme Court of Appeal, where the court had to consider the fairness of dismissing correctional officers for refusing to cut their dreadlocks, contrary to the employer’s dress code.

Read more :

How far can employers go in regulating appearance? A recent court ruling highlights when dress codes clash with culture, religion and constitutional rights.

17/08/2026

Competition Commission guidelines on confidential information

The Competition Commission of South Africa (“Competition Commission”) identified a need to guide merger parties and stakeholders on claiming confidentiality over information. In September 2025, the Competition Commission issued Guidelines on the Commission’s handling of confidential information (“Guidelines”), which, however, are not binding on the Competition Commission, the Competition Tribunal or the Competition Appeal Court, but must be taken into account by these authorities when interpreting and applying the Competition Act 89 of 1998 (“Competition Act”).

Read more :

The Competition Commission’s new guidelines explain how businesses can have confidential information protected and how this is assessed.

14/08/2026

Termination of joint ownership, rights in question: PIE Act explained

In a recent Western Cape court case where the court ordered the termination of joint ownership of properties, an interesting question arose as to whether the termination of joint ownership did not amount to an eviction contrary to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, 19 of 1998 (PIE Act)? We look at the requirements for the termination of joint ownership by our courts and whether this can infringe on the PIE Act.

Read more :

Ending joint ownership must meet specific legal requirements and can carry significant practical consequences.

Address

200 Hoosen Haffejee Street
Pietermaritzburg
3201

Telephone

+27333453501

Website

http://www.tathamwilkes.co.za/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tatham Wilkes Inc. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Tatham Wilkes Inc.:

Want your practice to be the top-listed Law Practice in Pietermaritzburg?