VDMALaw

16/06/2026

This Youth Day, we celebrate the potential, ambition, and resilience of South Africa’s young people.

Education, skills development, and opportunity remain the foundation of a stronger future. By investing in the next generation today, we help build the leaders, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow.

Happy Youth Day, South Africa.

11/06/2026

Business Insight. Legal Instinct.

In a world where opportunities and risks often arrive together, the difference lies in seeing what others miss.

At VDMA, we combine commercial understanding with legal expertise, helping businesses navigate complexity with confidence, protect what matters, and make decisions that drive results.

Because informed decisions don't happen by chance, they come from insight, experience, and instinct.

Visit our bio to learn more about VDMA.

08/06/2026

VDMA is proud to have acted as lead legal counsel to a USA private equity firm and the majority shareholder of Pay@ Holdings in a transaction for the disposal of an 80% interest in the Pay@ Group to JSE-listed Araxi valued at approximately USD 62 million (ZAR 1 billion).

This landmark fintech transaction represents a significant milestone in the continued growth of one of Africa’s leading payment service providers and highlights the increasing strategic value of digital payment infrastructure across the African continent.

This transaction spanned across South Africa, Namibia, Mauritius, and the USA and underscores VDMA’s experience in advising shareholders on complex, high-value deals whereby VDMA’s team of experts deliver commercially focused solutions in sophisticated cross-border transactions.

02/06/2026

29/05/2026

PAIA Compliance in South Africa: What Businesses Need to Know

The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (“PAIA”) remains a key pillar of transparency and accountability in South Africa. PAIA empowers all types of stakeholders to request access to records held by both public and private businesses when access is required to protect their rights.

Every business is required to maintain a PAIA manual setting out how information requests may be submitted and processed. Once a request is received in the prescribed format, the organisation must respond within the prescribed statutory timeframe by either granting or refusing access. In addition, organisations must comply with annual PAIA reporting obligations to the Information Regulator, even where no requests were received during the reporting period. The report covers the financial period from 1 April to 31 March annually.

The annual report records whether access was either granted or refused, reasons for refusal, extensions of timeframes, the number of requests received, appeals, and complaints lodged with the regulator. Businesses should therefore ensure that appropriate processes are in place to receive, record, and manage all PAIA requests.

PAIA should not be confused with Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”). While PAIA governs access to information, POPIA regulates the processing and protection of personal information. Even though the same regulator regulates both pieces of legislation, they serve distinct legal purposes and operate independently.

Therefore, for businesses, PAIA compliance is not only an administrative exercise. It reflects a broader commitment to sound governance, transparency, and responsible information management.

20/05/2026

Meet Chiara Bhana
Associate | Corporate and Commercial Law

This month, we feature Chiara Bhana, Associate at VDMA. With 3 years’ experience in corporate and commercial law, Chiara plays a key role in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, various corporate matters, corporate governance and company secretarial work, while also providing ongoing commercial support to businesses.

Chiara’s advice to legal professionals building their careers: “Those who last are usually the ones willing to do the quiet work that no one applauds.”

15/05/2026

FEATURE ARTICLE: SOUTH AFRICA RAISES THE BAR FOR MERGER NOTIFICATIONS

Don't miss this must-read feature: Click on the link below for the full article: https://vdmalaw.com/2026/05/14/south-africa-raises-the-bar-for-merger-notifications/

14/05/2026

FEATURE ARTICLE: SOUTH AFRICA RAISES THE BAR FOR MERGER NOTIFICATIONS

Don't miss this must-read feature: Click on the link below for the full article: https://vdmalaw.com/2026/05/14/south-africa-raises-the-bar-for-merger-notifications/

14/05/2026

VDMA is pleased to announce a favourable adjudication outcome for our client in a major construction dispute instituted by a prominent state-owned entity. The state-owned entity sought to enforce a claim against our client exceeding R450 million. The adjudicator set aside the state entity’s claim, confirming that our client is liable for less than 15% of the amount claimed. A strong result that reinforces our team’s capability to attend to high-value complex construction disputes.

12/05/2026

AI In Banking: Legal Liability and Regulatory Oversight

AI is already reshaping banking, but the law is still catching up.

As financial institutions integrate artificial intelligence into decision-making, risk assessment, and customer engagement, critical legal questions are coming to the forefront: Who carries liability when AI systems fail? How should accountability be structured between developers, banks, and third-party providers? Are existing regulatory frameworks equipped to deal with autonomous or semi-autonomous systems?

In South Africa and globally, regulators are beginning to respond, but the landscape remains fragmented, with growing pressure for clearer oversight, governance standards, and risk allocation models.

This insight explores the evolving intersection of AI, legal liability, and regulatory control in banking, and what institutions should be doing now to stay ahead of both risk and regulation.

Visit our bio to learn more about VDMA.