There is no doubt that leadership in both the public and private sectors has been fraught with upsets, tension and change this year. Questions have been asked about the leadership in the country, and whether there is something larger at play under which our country and private sector’s leadership is buckling.

Wild swings in the rand exchange rate, brought on by local labour unrest and the ongoing European sovereign debt drama, are forcing specialist insurers and their clients to realign their risk management strategies.

Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan’s budget policy statement at the end of last month was widely welcomed. Particularly welcome was the Gordhan’s commitment to crack the whip on soaring state spending. But the picture of the country’s consumers does not look rosy and a bubble in consumer debt seems to be building. 

South African directors, sitting on multiple boards, risk huge exposure to corporate fraud, making governance tools and aids a necessity in their daily business practice.

For a century and more, the 'voetstoots' clause in a contract has proved a solid bulwark for a seller of goods or property. In essence, this clause records that the subject of the sale, whether movable goods or immovable property, is sold 'as is' and without any warranties as to its condition or suitability. This meant that the purchaser had to accept the goods with all defects, whether latent (hidden) or patent (obvious).