Dentons - South Africa Newsletter

Constitutional Court provides clarity on rights of licensees to construct facilities on another person’s land under the Electronic Communications Act

November 2015

In City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality v. Link Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others (CCT 184/14) [2015] ZACC 29, the Constitutional Court confirmed the constitutionality of a provision in the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005 (ECA) that allows licensees to enter into and construct electronic communications networks on another person’s land without the landowner’s consent.

Technological change and economic growth

November 2015

Google, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Zynga, Airbnb, Uber etc etc. These are all companies that have come from nowhere and are now market leaders in an increasingly mobile and digital world. They have built their brands and revenues on populations that are increasingly sucked in (some would say addicted) to this new world of digital apps. However, Africa is still playing catch-up. If you exclude the telcos, no household African IT or social media company has emerged. Nevertheless the TMT sector in Africa is growing and thriving.

Overlooked developments in energy

November 2015

The role of regulation and policies, flat levels of demand coupled with increased need for investment in innovation, and changing user habits are all changing the industry—but are all market participants paying attention and adjusting appropriately?