Legal updates and opinions
News / News
King V: South Africa’s Governance Evolution
by Eric Levenstein, Director and Head of Insolvency & Business Rescue and Helena Stoop, Senior Knowledge Lawyer
The official King V was launched on 31 October 2025. The project was spearheaded by the Institute of Directors in Southern Africa NPC (IoDSA) in its capacity as Secretariat for the King Committee and custodian of the King Reports on corporate governance in South Africa. It replaces the previous edition (‘King IV’) and will be effective for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2026.
The fifth edition of the Code (‘King V’) follows the trend of previous editions and sets out the philosophy, principles, practices and outcomes which serve as the benchmark for corporate governance in South Africa. It was drafted to address both national and global developments, improve accessibility for all types of organisations, and promote the ongoing evolution of governance outcomes. Werksmans provides a bespoke and summarised overview of key components relevant to King V.
Download the King V Overview here.
Latest News
When a misdirected email becomes a data breach: The Information Regulator issues an enforcement notice on internal and accidental security compromises
by Armand Swart, Director, Hlonelwa Lutuli, Associate and Isabella Keeves, Candidate Attorney On 22 May 2026, South Africa’s Information Regulator [...]
Renting out your home? The Consumer Protection Act does not apply to you says Supreme Court of Appeal
by Armand Swart, Director In the judgment of Els v Venter and Another (449/2024) [2025] ZASCA 163 (27 October 2025), [...]
Bullies beware: When workplace toxicity becomes a dismissible offence
by Bradley Workman-Davies, Director For many years, workplace bullying occupied an uncomfortable space in South African labour law. Employers recognised [...]
The rule of law remains paramount: Lessons from City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality v Summer Season Trading 63 (Pty) Ltd
by Bulelwa Mabasa, Director and Head of Land Reform and Samkelo Ntuli, Candidate Attorney The dispute in Summer Season Trading [...]
Mind the Conduct: A Guide to COFI – Part 4: Principles and Conduct Requirements
by Hilah Laskov, Director Introduction In this article series, we take a deep dive into the South African Conduct of [...]
The Concept of “Need” in South Africa’s Healthcare Framework: From Certificates of Need to National Health Insurance Accreditation
by Neil Kirby, Director and Head of Healthcare & Life Sciences and Vhutshilo Muambadzi, Candidate Attorney On 18 May 2026, the [...]
