Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys

27/08/2026

When an international marriage ends in divorce in South Africa, which country's law determines what happens to the couple's assets?

Until recently, South African private international law answered this question by looking primarily to the husband's domicile at the time of marriage. In N.P. v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Western Cape High Court declared this long-standing rule unconstitutional and replaced it with a more modern framework.

Our latest blog post unpacks the judgment, the new approach to determining which country's law applies, and what this development means for marriages with an international element.

Read the full blog post here: https://www.vzslaw.co.za/post/international-marriage-south-african-divorce-which-country-s-law-governs-your-assets

Getting divorced in South Africa does not necessarily mean that South African law will govern your assets. We explain the new High Court test for determining which country’s law applies to the matrimonial property consequences of an international marriage

28/07/2026

In private companies, the same people often wear two different hats: shareholder and director.

The distinction may seem unimportant while everyone agrees. It becomes critical when decisions are challenged, conflicts arise, or a shareholder demands access to company information. Shareholders own shares, but the board is responsible for managing the company. A person who occupies both roles must understand which “hat” they are wearing and which powers and duties apply.

Our latest article explains the practical difference between shareholders and directors, including management responsibility, shareholder decisions, conflicts of interest and access to information.

Read it here: https://www.vzslaw.co.za/post/shareholders-vs-directors-who-is-actually-in-charge-of-a-private-company

In many private companies, the same people are both shareholders and directors. This overlap often creates confusion about who may make decisions, manage the business and access company information. We explain the different roles, how conflicts of interest must be handled, and why wearing the correc...

11/06/2026

Our offices will be closed on Monday, 15 June 2026 and Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in observance of Youth Day. 🇿🇦

Youth Day commemorates the courage and contribution of South Africa’s youth, both past and present. In honour of the occasion, we’ve decided that the youth in our office have earned a well-deserved break too (and the rest of us are happy to join them).

We will reopen on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.

05/06/2026

Big congratulations to our own Christiaan DeWet on becoming an IMI Qualified Mediator! 🎉

This exciting milestone allows us to expand our services and assist clients through commercial mediation, an effective alternative dispute resolution process for contractual, property, employment and a wide range of other commercial disputes.

Mediation provides parties with the opportunity to work towards a practical, mutually beneficial resolution with the assistance of an independent third party, often avoiding the time, cost and uncertainty associated with litigation.

To find out more about our mediation services, contact us on 021 493 3577.

11/03/2026

The Constitutional Court shook up South Africa’s parental leave landscape in October 2025 when it struck down parts of the old maternity, paternity and adoption leave system and replaced them with a temporary, more equal parental leave model, pending Parliament’s intervention.

And just as everyone was adjusting, the Labour Law Amendment Bill, 2025 arrived on 26 February 2026 with proposals to entrench and refine the new parental leave framework in South Africa.

In our latest blog, Christiaan DeWet unpacks the current legal position and the key changes proposed in the Labour Law Amendment Bill, 2025.

Need help navigating labour law? Contact Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys.

https://www.vzslaw.co.za/post/four-months-ten-days-and-a-new-bill-understanding-parental-leave-in-south-africa

Parental leave in South Africa: dive in for a look at the current legal position and the changes proposed by the Labour Law Amendment Bill, 2025

04/03/2026

Over the past few weeks, more and more clients have mentioned suspicious “official” emails landing in their inboxes, and we’ve seen the same increase on our side, particularly after the end of the tax year.

These messages are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fraudsters often attach documents made to look like formal court papers, they use email addresses that appear legitimate at first glance, and they replicate the letterheads and branding of government departments. The most common impersonations we are seeing include SARS, the National Prosecuting Authority, and various municipalities.

A practical reminder:
If you receive an email like this and you are unsure whether it’s legitimate, do not open any attachments, click on any links, or respond in any way. Pause, seek advice first, and verify the communication through trusted channels before engaging.

Because we deal with these departments and their processes regularly, we can often identify very quickly whether communication is genuine or not. The key is to verify before you react. If you’re wondering how these attempts sometimes slip up despite looking “official”, one example we received literally includes “God day” right at the start before moving on to threats and “court summons” language.

Please don’t feel pressured or intimidated into responding. The aim is usually to create urgency and panic, and engaging can expose your personal information, banking details, passwords, and other sensitive data.

Please stay vigilant.

17/02/2026

Our latest team member became part of Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys so quickly that we almost forgot to give her a proper social media welcome.

Meet our new Candidate Attorney: Siobhan de Bruyn

Having grown up in KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria, and George, Siobhan brings a rich mix of experiences that shaped her into a thoughtful, adaptable and resillient young professional. After high school, she spent two years in the USA as an au pair, where she cared for two young boys. The experience sharpened her patience, interpersonal skills, and resilience, all very useful skills in the legal profession.

Her legal journey began at Stellenbosch University with a Bachelor of Arts in Law, followed by the completion of her Postgraduate LLB in 2025.

Outside the office, Siobhan enjoys knitting and crocheting cozy creations, spending time with friends, and relaxing evenings at home under her duvet watching her favourite movie or series.

We’re thrilled to have your curious mind and warm personality on board, Siobhan. We know you’ll do great things, and we’re excited to play a role in your journey to becoming a legal sidekick to our clients.

15/01/2026

HELLO 2026!

As we open our doors for the new year, we are proud to enter the sixth year of our firm’s existence.

The festive season offered a valuable opportunity to pause, rest and reconnect, and the moments captured above reflect the people behind the work.

Our survival and our successes are owed to those who make this firm what it is: our team, our clients, our suppliers, our associates, and our colleagues. Thank you for the trust, support and collaboration that carried us through another demanding and rewarding year.

We start 2026 with renewed optimism and drive, committed to continuing to deliver excellent legal services with a personal touch.

As we begin the year ahead, we remind ourselves:

Justice is our calling.
Law is our craft.