CDH Conversations

Hosted by CLIFFE DEKKER HOFMEYR

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Episodes

203

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-ZA

About the show

Welcome to CDH Conversations. This is a dedicated Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr podcast channel where our audiences have insight into the most recent legal and business developments across key industry sectors. This is an interview and conversational-based channel where our experts delve into various legal subject matters that impact businesses across East and Southern Africa. This channel acts as an enhanced method to access our thought leadership.

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60 recent

August 20, 202645 min

Untangling Tax Podcast Series | Finance Act 2026: What it means for investors, businesses and Kenya’s tax future

In this episode of the Untangling Tax series, Alex Kanyi, Partner in the Tax & Exchange Control practice, is joined by Josephine Mugure from the Policy & Tax Advisory Department at the Kenya Revenue Authority and Christine Maina, Chief Executive Officer – East Africa Venture Capital Association, to discuss the reforms and what they mean beyond the text of the law. The discussion looks at Kenya’s attractiveness to investors, with Christine noting that Kenya remains a strong market for venture capital and private equity, supported by its deep capital markets, good talent and professional advisory firms. However, changes in tax policy can cause investors to pause or reconsider closing deals, highlighting the importance of certainty and predictability in the tax environment. Josephine also highlights some of the opportunities created by the Finance Act 2026, including the tax amnesty, incentives for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and the removal of PIN requirements for non-residents opening investment bank accounts. Christine also acknowledges the Government’s willingness to listen to tax proposals and respond to feedback from investors and the wider public. Finally, Alex highlights the importance of early and meaningful engagement with KRA and the National Treasury. Josephine encourages businesses and investors to put forward practical proposals, supported by data and numbers, to help inform tax policy development. Looking ahead, the speakers consider Kenya’s tax policy over the next three to five years, including the expected implementation of a further Medium-Term Revenue Strategy, with the aim of strengthening predictability and certainty in Kenya’s tax environment.

August 19, 202619 min

From articles to academia: Dr Thandiwe Matthews' CDH journey

CDH Conversations Podcast launches the first episode of the #helloCDHalumni series. In this episode, Aadil Patel, Director and Practice Head in the Employment Law practice, reconnects with former Cliffe Dekker Candidate Attorney and Associate, Dr Thandiwe Matthews, now a Lecturer at the Wits School of Governance. Aadil fondly recalls the feisty discussions he shared with Thandiwe during her time at the firm. From those robust debates to a career spanning academia, human rights and public service, Dr Matthews reflects on how the discipline, mentorship and foundations built during her time at CDH continue to shape her professional journey. Together, they explore the lasting value of articles, career growth, and why investing in your early years pays dividends throughout your career. Click here to listen to the podcast.

August 19, 202630 min

Njeri talks to Teresa Njoroge, Founder & CEO of Clean Start Africa - Part 2

In Part 2 of this conversation, Teresa Njoroge shares how what seemed like the end of her story became the beginning of a greater purpose. After leaving prison, she refused to let her experience define her. Instead, she founded Clean Start Africa, creating a path of hope, dignity, and restoration for women seeking a second chance at life. Teresa reflects on how adversity became impact, the lessons she learned through one of the most difficult chapters of her life, and how her journey is now transforming the lives of many others. Her story is a powerful reminder that some endings are, in fact, new beginnings. Listen to the podcast here . Watch the videocast here: https://youtu.be/ws3UpiyffG0 Listen to Part 1 here . *The views and opinions expressed in this videocast and podcast are solely those of the speakers. Any information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice or an endorsement.

August 19, 20261 hr 9 min

Njeri talks to Teresa Njoroge, Founder & CEO of Clean Start Africa - Part 1

This month, Njeri talks to Teresa Njoroge, Founder & CEO of Clean Start Africa. Teresa spent 10 years building a banking career she had dreamed of since she was nine years old. Then a 9.9-million-shilling fraudulent transaction, one she didn't commit, walked through her branch. Everything checked out. The ID. The signature. The client. Everything. Except the CCTV. Which was conveniently blank. What followed was an arrest, a night on a police cell floor, and, in Teresa's words, a system that seemed designed to break her. She recalls being told, ' You have been handpicked to carry the cross '. In Part 1 of this conversation, Teresa walks us through the transaction, the arrest, her first night in custody, and what it felt like to be swallowed by a system she had done nothing to deserve. Don't miss Part 2, where we dive even deeper into the discussion and explore how Teresa turned what seemed like the end of her story into a blessing through the business she built. Look out for Part 2, coming soon! *The views and opinions expressed in this videocast and podcast are solely those of the speakers. Any information provided is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice or an endorsement.

August 19, 202620 min

Warmware, digital hubs and the Cyber Power Girls: Inside the MiDO Foundation

What happens when creativity meets community meets technology? In this episode of the CDH Women Empowerment series, CDH Director Tayyibah Suliman talks to Michelle Swartland, Operations Manager at the MiDO Foundation about building digital hubs in under-resourced Stellenbosch schools, equipping young people with skills from email basics to cybersecurity awareness, and launching the CyberPower Girls programme, a Commonwealth-funded initiative teaching teenage girls to protect themselves online. A story about "warmware", women in tech, and the power of simply keeping going.

June 19, 202623 min

World Refugee Day: A discussion on refugee protection and changed circumstances in asylum applications

World Refugee Day, observed each year on 20 June, is an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers, the protections available to those fleeingpersecution and conflict, and the ongoing challenges within refugee protection systems. In this episode, Elgene Lutshiti , in CDH’s Pro Bono & Human Rights practice, is joined by Monique Schoeman, Senior Attorney at the UCT Refugee Rights Unit, to reflect onrefugee protection in South Africa. The discussion considers the Constitutional Court’s decision in Director-General, Department of Home Affairs and Others v Irankunda and Another , a judgment dealing withfurther asylum applications based on new or changed circumstances, and what this means for access to protection in South Africa. The conversation situates the judgment within the broader realities of refugee protection in South Africa and reflects on why access to fair asylum procedures remains so important.

June 12, 202636 min

GBV as a national state of disaster: A discussion with Women for Change

As of 20 November 2025, GBV has been classifiedas a national state of disaster. The question remains "What now?" In conversation with Sabrina Walter and MerlizeJogiat of Women for Change, and Brigitta Mangale in CDH's Pro Bono and Human Rights practice, we delve into this question. The dialogue aims to amplify the voices of women, share insight and inspire meaningful action. These are thewomen doing the real work on the ground, driving change and making a meaningful difference in the lives of women. The discussion around the classification, implementation of policies, and the emotional burden and ancillary impacts of GBV highlights that the work is ongoing. Without continuous efforts, women will remain trapped in a system thatcultivates a persistent sense of fear. This fruitful engaging conversation provides strategies for the implementation of laws and policies, a response to thedevastating impact of GBV on the lives of women and how best we can assist activist organisations like Women for Change in fighting the scourge. Don't miss the opportunity to listen, learn andbe part of the movement.

June 10, 202620 min

Updated merger thresholds, public interest and the cost of doing business in South Africa

In the latest episode of Clause & Effect, CDH’s podcast exploring the intersection of law and business, Phetha Mchunu is joined by Reece May, Director in CDH’s Competition Law practice, for an insightful discussion on the updated merger control thresholds and what they mean for businesses navigating transactions in South Africa. Merger control thresholds are often viewed as technical regulatory benchmarks, but in practice, they play a critical role in determining whether a transaction triggers regulatory scrutiny from the competition authorities and what obligations arise for merging parties. Phetha and Reece unpack what merger thresholds are, why they matter for deal planning, and the key legal and business considerations that companies, investors, and advisors should keep in mind when assessing transaction risk. The conversation explores the practical implications of notifiable mergers, common misconceptions around thresholds and regulatory approval, and the broader competition law considerations that can affect deal timelines, transaction certainty, and execution risk. Drawing on practical examples and market insight, the episode demystifies a complex topic and translates it into practical guidance for businesses operating in an increasingly sophisticated regulatory environment. Tune in to hear Phetha and Reece unpack the updated merger control thresholds and what businesses should know before signing on the dotted line. Click here to watch the videocast - https://www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com/en/news/media/2026/Corporate-Commercial/Updated-merger-thresholds-public-interest-and-the-cost-of-doing-business-in-South-Africa

June 8, 202613 min

Restrained from restraining: When employers lose the right to hold you back

Can an employer enforce a restraint of trade after telling an employee they won't? In SD Recruitment (Pty) Ltd v Werner Pretorius and Another , the Labour Court examined whether restraint, confidentiality, and non-solicitation undertakings could be enforced against a former employee who joined a competitor. The court considered issues of urgency, protectable interests, the role of verbal agreements waiving restraints, and whether an employee's reasons for resigning affect enforceability. In this podcast, Jean Ewang and Ayesha Karjieker in the Employment Law practice unpack the judgment's key findings and what they mean for employers and employees navigating post-employment restrictions in South Africa.

June 8, 202611 min

The Reparations in German Colonial Namibia Series | Genocide Remembrance Day

Episode 2 of our CDH Conversations podcast series, The Reparations in German Colonial Namibia, is now available. Timed to coincide with Genocide Remembrance Day on May 28, this episode examines the controversy surrounding the date itself and explores why the affected communities have rejected it. In Episode 2, Patrick Kauta, lead counsel in the matter, is joined by Esther Shigwedha to explore the significance and controversy of May 28th. The discussion unpacks: The controversy over May 28 as Genocide Remembrance Day, a date marking the closure of German colonial concentration camps in 1908, which the OvaHerero and Nama communities reject as a day of remembrance. Why the affected communities regard the camp closures not as liberation but as the beginning of forced relocation, forced labour, and continued dispossession, with Paramount Chief Mutjinde Katjiua describing May 28 as " the day the OvaHerero people were reduced to slavery ." The dates the communities themselves hold sacred: October 2, 1904, when General Lothar von Trotha issued his extermination order against the OvaHerero; and April 12, linked to the 1893 massacre at Hornkranz and the beginning of genocidal violence against the Nama. At its core, this episode asks a question that resonates well beyond Namibia: who gets to decide how genocide is remembered, and what happens when the descendants of victims are excluded from that decision? Building on the foundational context of Episode 1 , this instalment provides listeners with a deeper understanding of why the politics of remembrance remain inseparable from the pursuit of restorative justice. Listen to Episode 2 now and continue following the series for deeper insights into one of the most significant reparations cases in Africa.