Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys

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.

21/11/2025

Today, our firm stands in solidarity with the - a powerful, collective call to end gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa. 💜

Every woman deserves to live in a society where she is safe, heard and protected. Gender-based violence remains one of the most devastating crises in our country. The daily stories of pain and loss are heartbreaking, and no woman should ever have to live in fear.

South Africa’s femicide rate is 6 times higher than the global average. In just one year, 5 578 women were murdered. That’s 1 woman murdered every 2.5 hours.

Earlier today Dané De Villiers from our firm attended a gathering on the Rooiplein at Stellenbosch University coordinated by Women For Change, where hundreds of supporters participated in a 15-minute lie-down. The atmosphere was both heavy and powerful, which serves as a reminder of the scale of the crisis and the strength found when women stand together.

As a law firm, we believe deeply in justice, dignity and the rule of law. We also know that strong legal frameworks already exist, but without the resources, education and political will to implement them, they are not enough. We remain committed to advocating for a system where survivors are truly supported and protected.

Change begins now - with all of us. 💜

03/10/2025

🎉 Congratulations, Dané De Villiers! 🎉

Today we celebrate Dané for passing her first two board exams.

You've reached another milestone on the journey to becoming an attorney. Over the past few months, you’ve shown true professionalism, determination, and calm under pressure.

We’re proud of you and grateful to have you on our team. The future is bright, and we can’t wait to see where your path leads next. Here’s to many more successes ahead! 🌟

08/09/2025

At a time when the future of property rights in South Africa feels uncertain for many landowners, it is more important than ever to stay informed about legal developments that directly affect your decision-making.

A recent Constitutional Court judgment has confirmed that the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) regulates not only residence but also grazing rights of occupiers on agricultural land. This means that once grazing consent (even tacitly) has been given, it cannot simply be withdrawn and that proper legal eviction procedures under ESTA must be followed to terminate these rights.

The key takeaway for farm owners:
* If you grant grazing consent, put it in writing with clear conditions.
* If you fail to act when someone grazes livestock without express permission, the law may deem that you consented.

Read our latest blog post for a detailed breakdown of this important judgment:

Dive into the landmark Constitutional Court judgment on the extension of ESTA protection to grazing rights in Mereki v Moladora Trust.

18/07/2025

Can property owners be prohibited from listing their units on platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com or LekkeSlaap if they live in a security complex or apartment building?

Community schemes are known for having rules that must be followed by their members, i.e. the property owners. But, is there a limit? Can governing bodies dictate how owners use their property? And can dissatisfied owners push back?

In our latest blog, Christiaan DeWet unpacks the legal position on community scheme rules regulating short-term rentals.

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

Can governing bodies regulate what you do with your property? Can you challenge these rules? Dive in to discover the legal position in light of the current regulatory framework in South Africa!

25/06/2025

South Africa’s labour environment is constantly evolving, with increasing regulation and stricter compliance requirements. Many employers remain unaware of how these laws affect their day-to-day operations. At the same time, many employees are unaware of the rights and protections available to them.

At Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys, we have seen that legal uncertainty often leads to unnecessary tension and disputes in the workplace. When businesses take the time to understand their responsibilities, and implement clear, well-communicated policies, it creates a work environment built on respect and trust that avoids costly and time consuming labour disputes.

When employees feel respected and protected, they are more likely to show respect for their work environment in return.

We’ve put together an accessible guide to employee rights under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act. It’s a valuable resource for employers and employees alike.

If you need assistance with employment contracts, workplace policies, or ensuring that your business is legally sound and practically effective, Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys is ready to assist.

To make sure employees' rights are protected in the workplace, we have laws that give us rules about things like working hours, pay, leave, and breaks. It helps protect workers, especially those who may not have had a chance to know their rights, from being overworked or underpaid. It’s about maki...

27/05/2025

Stop signing contracts blindly...

You finally get the agreement you’ve been waiting for. You’re busy, you’re trying to make things work, and you just want to sign and get moving. We've seen this play out too many times, and it almost never ends well.

A contract isn’t just a formality. It’s the rulebook when things fall apart. And when they do, you’ll wish you’d paid more attention to what you signed.

Rikus Scheepers wrote a post with 10 practical contract tips every small business owner should know before signing a contract. No legal jargon. Just straight, real-world advice based on issues we deal with every week.

Read this post if you own a small business. It could save you a lot of money, and even more frustration.

You got the deal at last. It's the one that will make your company thrive. When the client sends you a contract, you're so excited to get started that you sign on the dotted line, ignore the fine print, and get to work. After six months, the relationship has soured, you've been hit with unforeseen p...

16/05/2025

A sound corporate governance structure is the foundation of a sustainable business. Rikus Scheepers is obsessed with corporate governance.

He believes that it is the secret building blocks for a sustainable business that can withstand the storms that often hit businesses.

Read his latest blog post to learn why he thinks corporate governance matters.

Why corporate governance should be the building blocks of your business structure.

07/03/2025

Admitted, married, and ready to conquer the world!

Not too long ago, Christiaan DeWet walked through our doors as a fresh-faced law student—full of energy, a love for Narnia, and a sharp legal mind. It only took him a few weeks of vacation work before he appointed himself as our first candidate attorney.

Fast forward two years, and he has now taken not one but two of the biggest steps in life during his journey with Van Zyl Scheepers Attorneys: getting admitted as an attorney and getting married!

It feels like watching our firstborn grow up overnight. One minute, he’s a a hopeful student, the next, he’s standing outside court in his robe, officially admitted, with his wife by his side.

Christiaan, we’ve seen you grow into a confident, passionate attorney who always puts his clients and our firm first. We couldn’t be prouder of the man, the attorney and friend you’ve become. Thank you for making us part of your adventure.

Here’s to your next chapter—both in law and in life!