The independent non-executive director: Origins, regulation and persistent challenges

by | Nov 4, 2023 | JCCL, JCCL V9 I1

The independent non-executive director: Origins, regulation and persistent challenges

Author: Helena Stoop-Koornhof

ISSN: 2521-2575
Affiliations: LLB (Cum Laude) (Pretoria), LLM (Stellenbosch), PhD (Durham)
Source: Journal of Corporate and Commercial Law & Practice, Volume 9 Issue 1, 2023, p. 68 – 91
https://doi.org/10.47348/JCCL/V9/i1a4

Abstract

The premise that non-executive directors acting independently from management is essential to the integrity of the company board has driven much of the corporate governance agenda for decades. This is the case, despite conflicting empirical evidence of the value or contribution of independent non-executives. In addition, the exact meaning of ‘independence’ in the context of the corporate board remains opaque, and expectations regarding the role and remit of the office are far from settled. This article elaborates on some of these themes. The discussion will introduce the reader to the salient concepts and offer an overview of the most prominent discourse and recent developments with reference to approaches in the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other jurisdictions. Ultimately, the paper contributes to the ongoing debate surrounding the efficacy of the independent non-executive director as a critical oversight mechanism in good corporate governance and the extent to which regulation can and should scaffold the office.

Practice Note: Supreme Court of Maryland overrules prior distinction between director’s managerial and non-managerial duties and reaffirms that the MGCL is the ‘sole source’ of director duties to the corporation and its stockholders

by | Nov 4, 2023 | JCCL, JCCL V9 I1

Practice Note: Supreme Court of Maryland overrules prior distinction between director’s managerial and non-managerial duties and reaffirms
that the MGCL is the ‘sole source’ of director duties to the corporation and its stockholders

Authors: James J Hanks Jr, Hirsh M Ament, Judah L Rosenblatt

ISSN: 2521-2575
Affiliations: Senior Partner, Venable LLP, Baltimore, MD; Partner, Venable LLP, Baltimore, MD; Associate, Venable LLP, Baltimore, MD
Source: Journal of Corporate and Commercial Law & Practice, Volume 9 Issue 1, 2023, p. 92 – 94
https://doi.org/10.47348/JCCL/V9/i1a5

Abstract

None

Chuma Himonga’s scholarship on the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

Chuma Himonga’s scholarship on the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998

Author Lea Mwambene

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: Dip Nursing, LLB (Hons) (UNIMA), LLM LLD (UWC); Professor, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 1 – 18
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a1

Abstract

This article is an appreciation of the influence of Chuma Himonga’s work on my research and that of many other academic writers. It begins with a discussion of Himonga’s contribution to a greater understanding of the importance of taking into account the lived realities of the communities to which reformed laws apply. Thereafter, the article takes stock of the practical implementation of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 in addressing the conflicts between customary laws and women’s rights in a customary marriage context. The article considers Himonga’s contribution to the greater understanding of this reality by analysing the courts’ jurisprudence. The final section of this paper suggests that Himonga’s thesis, in which she cautions against the danger of reducing reformed laws into ‘paper law’, has a universal appeal. In particular, I argue that her thesis provides useful insights into the best practical approaches to resolving conflicts between customary rules and practices and human rights. Afrikaans: Hierdie artikel is ’n evaluering van die invloed van Chuma Himonga se werk op my navorsing en dié van talle ander akademiese skrywers. Dit begin met ’n bespreking van Himonga se bydrae tot ’n groter begrip van die belangrikheid daarvan om die geleefde realiteite in ag te neem van die gemeenskappe waarop hervormde wette van toepassing is. Daarna evalueer die artikel die praktiese implementering van die Wet op Erkenning van Gebruiklike Huwelike 120 van 1998 om die konflik tussen gewoontereg en vroue se regte in die konteks van gebruiklike huwelike te hanteer. Die artikel kyk na Himonga se bydrae tot die groter begrip van hierdie realiteit deur die howe se regspleging te ontleed. Die finale gedeelte van hierdie dokument stel voor dat Himonga se tesis, waarin sy waarsku teen die gevaar om hervormde wette as ‘papierwette’ te aanvaar, ’n universele aantrekkingskrag het. Ek redeneer in die besonder dat haar tesis nuttige insig verskaf in die beste praktiese benaderings om konflik tussen gewoonteregreëls en praktyke en menseregte op te los.

Transforming litigation in customary marriage disputes: Ubuntu and the responsibility of legal practitioners

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

Transforming litigation in customary marriage disputes: Ubuntu and the responsibility of legal practitioners

Author Helen Kruuse

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: BA LLB LLM PGDHE PhD (Rhodes); Associate Professor, Rhodes University
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 19 – 45
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a2

Abstract

This contribution recognises different areas of Himonga’s scholarship, particularly her work on the recognition of customary marriages, ubuntu and dispute resolution. In bringing this work together, I suggest that her research on ubuntu – translated into the context of litigation – might provide insights on customary marriage recognition in ways that have not yet been properly explored. This insight is that the way in which legal practitioners have displayed ubuntu (or not) in litigating customary marriage disputes materially affects the ability of the courts to recognise living customary law. Having considered case law, the contribution suggests then that ubuntu should be used, not only as an interpretative tool, but also as a legal principle in guiding the procedure in which disputes are settled. isiXhosa: Eli galelo liqonda imimandla eyahlukeneyo kwinkxasomali yokufunda kaHimonga, ingakumbi umsebenzi wakhe ekuqondweni kwemitshato yesintu, ubuntu kunye nokusonjululwa kweembambano. Ukuhlanganisa lo msebenzi, ndicebisa ukuba uphando lwakhe ku-ubuntu – oluguqulelwe ngomxholo womangalelwano – lungabonakalisa imibono ekuqondweni komtshato wesintu ngeendlela ezingekaphicothwa ngokwaneleyo. Lo mbono kukuba indlela amagosa ezomthetho abonakalisa ngayo ubuntu (okanye akunjalo) ekufakeni isimangalo ngeembambano zomtshato wesintu ngokubonakalayo kuchaphazela isakhono seenkundla ekuqondeni umthetho wesintu okhoyo ekuphileni. Xa kuthathelwa ingqalelo umthetho osekelwe kwimithetho yangaphambili, ngokuphathelele kwigalelo kucetyiswa ukuba kusetyenziswe ubuntu, hayi nje kuphela njengesixhobo sokutolika, kodwa kwakhona njengomgaqo ekukhokeleni inkqubo ekusonjululwa ngayo iimbambano.

The active role of South Africa’s Constitutional Court in advancing women’s rights and proprietary interests in the customary law of marriage

by | Oct 14, 2023 | ACTA, ACTA 2023

The active role of South Africa’s Constitutional Court in advancing women’s rights and proprietary interests in the customary law of marriage

Author Ebrezia Johnson

ISSN: 1996-2088
Affiliations: LLB, LLM (SU), Lecturer in the Department of Private Law, Stellenbosch University
Source: Acta Juridica, 2023, p. 46 – 76
https://doi.org/10.47348/ACTA/2023/a3

Abstract

This contribution investigates the role of the Constitutional Court in advancing and promoting women’s rights and proprietary interests in the customary law of marriage. This entails a critical discussion of a number of seminal cases decided by the court in the last couple of years, presented in chronological order. These cases are Gumede v President of the Republic of South Africa, Ramuhovhi v President of the Republic of South Africa and Sithole v Sithole. All these cases have shifted the traditional customary law proprietary rights and interests of women in monogamous and polygamous customary marriages. In Gumede the Constitutional Court did not make a decision on s 7(1) of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998 and its application in the context of polygamous customary marriages, preferring to refer the issue to the legislature. Therefore, this contribution also briefly considers the notion of judicial deference. The Recognition of Customary Marriages Amendment Act is also briefly considered as it was intended to give practical effect to the court’s decisions in Gumede and Ramuhovhi; however, the Amendment Act still fails to provide much-needed practical guidelines. Xitsonga: Vuhoxaxandla lebyi byi lavisisa xiave xa Khoto ya Vumbiwa eka ku antswisa na ku kondletela timfanelo ta vavasati na mitsakelo ya vun’wini bya nhundzu eka nawu wa xintu wa vukati. Leswi swi khumba nkanelo wa vukhensivusoli wa milandzu leyi nga na nhlohlotelo yo tala leyi bohiweke hi khoto eka malembe mangarimangani lama nga hundza, leyi andlariweke hi ku landzelelana. Milandzu leyi i Gumede loko a tengisana na Phuresidente wa Rhiphabuliki ya Afrika-Dzonga, Ramuhovhi loko a tengisana na Phuresidente wa Rhiphabuliki ya Afrika-Dzonga na Sithole loko a tengisana Sithole. Milandzu leyi hinkwayo yi cincile timfanelo na mitsakelo swa vun’wini bya nhundzu bya nawu wa xintu xa ndhavuko swa vavasati eka vukati bya xintu bya nuna un’we na nsati un’we na vukati bya tshengwe. Eka Gumede Khoto ya Vumbiwa a yi tekangi xiboho hi mayelana na xiyenge xa 7(1) xa Nawu wa ku Tekeriwa Enhlokweni ka Vukati bya Xintu wa 120 wa 1998 na matirhiselo ya wona eka mbangu wa vukati bya xintu bya tshengwe, yi hlawule ku kongomisa mhaka leyi eka huvo yo endla milawu. Hikokwalaho, vuhoxaxandla lebyi byi tlhela byi tekela enhlokweni mhaka ya ku tshikela rhavi rin’wana leri nga enawini matimba ya vuavanyisi. Nawu wa Hundzuluxo wa ku Tekeriwa Enhlokweni ka Vukati bya Xintu wu tlhela wu langutisisa hi ku komisa tanihileswi wu endleriweke ku humelerisa hi ndlela yo endla swiboho swa khoto eka Gumede na Ramuhovhi; hambiswiritano, Nawu wa Hundzuluxo wa ha hluleka ku nyika swiletelo swo endla leswi dingiwaka swinene.