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Average data breach costs SA companies R50m
With data breaches becoming commonplace it seems as if businesses need to now consider not whether they will be victims of a data breach but rather [...]
ARE YOUR CONTRACTS WITH SUPPLIERS / CONTRACTORS SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH POPIA?
By Tebogo Sibidla, Director and Kirsten Whitworth, Senior Associate In anticipation of the coming into operation of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 ("POPIA"), many [...]
BBBEE Commission Makes Finding Against The MTN Zakhele Futhi Scheme
By Pieter Steyn, Director The Broad‑Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Commission has published its findings and recommendations following its investigation of the MTN Zakhele Futhi Scheme. [...]
BBBEE Commission Makes Findings Against Eskom
By Pieter Steyn, Director On 11 June 2019, the Broad‑Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Commission published its findings and recommendations following an anonymous complaint relating to Eskom's [...]
Significant Changes Made To The Codes Of Good Practice On Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment
By Pieter Steyn, Director On 31 May 2019, the Minister of Trade and Industry replaced the existing Codes of Good Practice relating to enterprise and supplier development, [...]
You don’t want to be counted as a victim!
By Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Director, Head of Data Privacy Practice, Werksmans Advisory Services (Pty) Ltd HOW DO THEY PHISH? DATA BREACHES AND DATA SECURITY The loss of [...]
Broad-based trusts – is the BBBEE commission moving the goal posts or simply applying the law?
By Pieter Steyn, Director Recent statements by the Commissioner of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment ("BBBEE") Commission, Ms Zodwa Ntuli, have resulted in much media attention [...]
What does the protection of personal information act, 2013 mean for south African elections?
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice and Mahlogonolo Motimele, Candidate Attorney A CLOSER LOOK AT THE VOTERS ROLL POPIA applies to the processing of [...]
When machines make decisions: Understanding the impact of the protection of personal information act, 2013 (“Popia”)
Companies, when obtaining and processing personal information must not mislead and must also provide certain information to the individual data subjects. The data protection regime in [...]
Long road to data protection
On 14 December 2018, the Regulations relating to the Protection of Personal Information were finally published by the Information Regulator ("Regulator") under section 112(2) of the Protection [...]
Direct marketing: the wild west to be tamed by POPIA
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice The POPIA[1] centres around eight Conditions detailing how personal information should be handled while regard is given to [...]
Dawn raid in a box
A dawn raid can be carried out on any business, big or small, and companies must be mindful of the possibility of a raid. It is [...]
“So the wolf showed his teeth” – not again Facebook!
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice "Little pigs! Little pigs! Let me in! Let me in!" "No! No! No! Not by the hairs on [...]
When the dispute relates to personal information – the discovery vault
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice A number of articles have been written and comments made in the media in relation to hundreds of [...]
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission (“Commission”) finalises its first case
On 12 July 2018, the Commission issued final findings against BEE Matrix, a BBBEE verification agent. The Commission's first finalised case in January 2018 also involved [...]
When the law says – confess!
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice The importance of a data breach plan The South African society has read about, and some members unfortunately [...]
The Facebook data breach – #thisisyourdigitallife
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice WHAT MESSAGE DOES THE FACEBOOK DATA BREACH HOLD FOR SOUTH AFRICA AS A SOCIETY AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY [...]
Further tightening of Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment rules proposed by Minister of Trade and Industry
On 29 March 2018, the Minister of Trade and Industry published draft amendments to the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Codes ("Codes") for public comment. The [...]
Memorandum of understanding concluded between the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (“BBBEE”) Commission and the Competition Commission – the increasingly important interface between BBBEE and Competition Law
) The Competition Commission investigates certain mergers and anticompetitive practices including cartel conduct (for example price fixing, collusive tendering and market division between competitors) and abuses [...]
You have to say something as with data disappearing, your embarrassment will not
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice The Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA") addresses, amongst others, poor information control and security. Therefore, [...]
Know the pages you will be judged against
by Ahmore Burger-Smidt, Head of Data Privacy Practice The Protection of Personal Information Act, Act 4 of 2013 ("POPIA") establishes a framework of rights and duties which [...]
Recent high court case clarifies fronting practices
INTRODUCTION In the recent High Court case involving the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Swifambo Rail Agency Proprietary Limited, Judge Francis set [...]
Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Commission announces investigations of trusts used in B-BBEE ownership structures
INTRODUCTION On 7 August 2017, the B-BBEE Commission announced that it had initiated 17 investigations for possible contraventions of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act [...]
Significant changes to government/parastatal procurement regulations promote Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment
New regulations in terms of the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act ("PPPFA") have been published and will take effect from 1 April 2017. The regulations replace the [...]
Appointment of Information Regulator
INTRODUCTION On 7 September 2016, the National Assembly voted in favour of appointing the former IEC chairperson Advocate Pansy Tlakula as the chairperson of the [...]