CDH Conversations

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.

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.

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

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.

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.