A Pretoria high court sets aside the Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau’s decision to gazette South Africa’s B-BBEE Legal Sector Code. Four major law firms and the union Solidarity win their challenges after the court reviews the minister’s decision.
The reports agree the ruling affects what can be treated as an operative legal sector code in the short term, creating uncertainty for law firms and clients that structure work around B-BBEE requirements. While the court overturns the gazetting decision, outlets note the legality of the code’s underlying provisions is not finally resolved. As a result, the status of the code and how it may be reconsidered or reintroduced remains undecided, with further processes expected.
Across coverage, the differing emphasis is on who brought the challenge and the practical implications for law firms and foreign clients, but all describe the same outcome: the gazetting decision is struck down by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.
