Recent Legal Updates: 16 to 20 February 2026

This update includes a brief selection of highlights from our paid subscription-based comprehensive newsletters and the latest blog posts. View free sample copies of our newsletters at https://www.lexinfo.co.za/newsletters or contact us at alert@lexinfo.co.za for more information or a quotation.

This week we include resources focusing on law practice management, new legislation, new publications, reports and several rulings.

The next edition will be published on Friday, 27 February 2026.

LAW PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ALERT: JANUARY 2026

The Lexinfo Law Practice Management Alert focuses on the diverse challenges encountered in the daily operations of a law practice.  The latest edition includes the following highlights:

Internet Articles

• Everett, Stephanie. What is lockup in law firms? The cash flow problem killing profitable practices. – 2026 Jan 21 Lawyerist

• Hamilton, Jamie. 100s face axe at Baker McKenzie as AI reliance grows. – 2026 Feb 6 RollonFriday

• Henson, Benny. Legal research in law firms: Why accuracy matters more than speed. – 2026 Jan 28 Legal Support World

• Schmidt, Sally J. Walking in your client’s shoes: How client empathy makes you a better lawyer. – 2026 Feb 6 Attorney at Work

Journal Article

• Mogale, Patrick. An analysis of the use of Chat GPT as an unreliable source for legal research by legal practitioners in South Africa. – 2025 39(1) Speculum Juris Law Journal p185

New Publications

• Bello, Mabel T Segun. Institutionalising Mentorship in the Legal Profession: A Strategic Blueprint for Professional Development. – Palmwine Publishing, 2025.

• Clark, Trevor. Financial Markets and the Ethics of Legal Practice. – Oxford University Press, 2026.

• Khalique, Natasha. A Practical Guide to Neurodivergence in Family Law. – Law Brief Publishing, 2026.

• Ramadan, Francesca (ed.) The Future of Legal Knowledge Management:

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence. – Globe Law and Business, 2026.

• Stern Switzer, Carole and Dittmar, Lee. The AI-Enabled Law Firm. –

American Bar Association, 2026.

Podcast

• Glaser, Zack. From hype to practice: Using Microsoft Copilot in your law firm, with Ben Schorr. - 2026 Jan 22 Lawyerist

ATTORNEY ALERT: 16 FEBRUARY 2026

A brief overview of highlights from our premium newsletter, published on Monday:

Constitutional Court cases

• Famous Idea Trading 4 (Pty) Ltd t/a Dely Road Courier Pharmacy v Government Employees Medical Scheme and Others (CCT 266/24) [2026] ZACC 5 (11 February 2026)

• Harris NO and Others v Herold Gie and Broadhead Inc (CCT 295/24) [2026] ZACC 6 (13 February 2026)

Government Gazette notices

• National Gambling Act 7 of 2004. Draft National Gambling Regulations, 2004. – RGN7113 GG 54106 p3 10Feb2026

        +35 more Government Gazette notices were included

High Court cases

• Bedir v Westdene Fruiterers (3748/2020) [2026] ZAFSHC 21 (22 January 2026)

• Smith NO v Balibi and Others (M431/2023) [2026] ZANWHC 20 (9 February 2026)

+ 13 more High Court cases were referenced

Journal articles

• Shiells, Beverly. Clarifying the contingency cap. [De Bod v Road Accident Fund (2017/52294) [2024] ZAGPPHC 984 (30 September 2024) and De Bod v Road Accident Fund (A55/2025) [2025] ZAGPPHC 1157 (7 November 2025)] – 2026 Jan–Feb De Rebus p44

+ 33 more journal articles were featured

Labour Appeal Court case

• Kgomotso v South African Police Service and Others (JA56/24) [2026] ZALAC 7 (5 February 2026)

New legislation

• Division of Revenue Amendment Act 12 of 2025 – GN7110 GG 54104 p1 11Feb2026

• Special Appropriation Act 1 of 2026 – GN7111 GG 54117 p1 11Feb2026

New publication

• Naidoo, Ramani. Corporate Governance – An Essential Guide for Companies. – 4^th ed. – LexisNexis, 2026.

Parliamentary Bill

• South African National Petroleum Company Bill 2 of 2026 

Supreme Court of Appeal cases

• Lutzkie v Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service (1135/2023) [2026] ZASCA 11 (6 February 2026)

• Road Accident Fund v Newnet Properties (Pty) Ltd t/a Sunshine Hospital and Another (616/2024) [2026] ZASCA 15 (11 February 2026)

+4 more Supreme Court of Appeal cases appeared in the full newsletter

EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR LAW ALERT: 16 FEBRUARY 2026

Monday's edition contains the following highlights:

High Court case

• Kula and Others v Busamed (Pty) Ltd and Others (2025/008323) [2026] ZAKZDHC 8 (6 February 2026)

Journal articles

• Mather, Nadine. Employment law update – Polygraph failure and client removal: Determining the true cause of termination; Double jeopardy revisited: When a prior award bars fresh misconduct charges. – 2026 Jan–Feb De Rebus p83

• Ndebele, Nozipho Lethokuhle. The equality of parents in obtaining parental leave. [Van Wyk and Others v Minister of Employment and Labour; Commission for Gender Equality and Another v Minister of Employment and Labour and Others (CCT 308/23; CCT 309/23) [2025] ZACC 20; [2025] 12 BLLR 1213 (CC); (2025) 46 ILJ 2811 (CC); 2026 (1) SA 38 (CC); 2026 (1) BCLR 45 (CC) (3 October 2025)] – 2026 Jan–Feb De Rebus p70

• Samela, Yolo. Navigating diplomatic dismissals. [Naidoo v Khosa NO and Others (JR1346/22) [2025] ZALCJHB 131; (2025) 46 ILJ 1971 (LC) (18 March 2025)] – 2026 Jan–Feb De Rebus p76

Labour Appeal Court cases

• John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality v South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) obo Mathabathe and Others (JA108/2022) [2025] ZALAC 67 (21 October 2025)

• Phahlane v South African Police Service and Others (JA56/24) [2026] ZALAC 7 (5 February 2026)

Labour Court cases

• Buthelezi and Others v Rand Water – Zuikerbosch Water and Others (JR2539/21) [2026] ZALCJHB 27 (3 February 2026)

• Ferre SA Holding (Pty) Ltd v National Union of Food, Beverage, Wine, Spirits and Allied Workers (NUFBWSAW) obo Raseoka and Others (JR24477/22) [2026] ZALCJHB 23 (5 February 2026)

+ more cases were referenced

INSURANCE LAW ALERT: 17 FEBRUARY 2026

Constitutional Court case

• Famous Idea Trading 4 (Pty) Ltd t/a Dely Road Courier Pharmacy v Government Employees Medical Scheme and Others (CCT 266/24) [2026] ZACC 5 (11 February 2026)

Financial Services Tribunal decisions

• Dube v Accolade Financial Planning Services (Pty) Ltd (FSP57/2025) (15 January 2026)

• Langa v First National Bank, a division of FirstRand Bank Ltd (FSP83/2025) (22 January 2026)

• Ntungwana v Danie Brynard Brokers; Rossouw v Danie Brynard Brokers; Nyamende v Danie Brynard Brokers; Booysen v Danie Brynard Brokers; Sithole v Danie Brynard Brokers; Yeko v Danie Brynard Brokers (FSP78/2025; FSP85/2025; FSP75/2025; FSP88/2025; FSP87/2025; FSP90/2025) (29 January 2026)

Government Gazettes

• Financial Sector and Deposit Insurance Levies Act 11 of 2022: Financial Sector and Deposit Insurance Levies, 2022: Amendment to Schedule 1. – GenN3771 GG 54124 p3 13Feb2026

• Military Veterans Act 18 of 2011: Military Veterans Pension Benefit Regulations, 2025. – GN7134 GG 54134 p3 13Feb2026

High Court cases

• Bedir v Westdene Fruiterers (3748/2020) [2026] ZAFSHC 21 (22 January 2026)

• Khoza v Minister of Police (2705/2021) [2026] ZAMPMBHC 10 (6 February 2026)

• Moloi v Road Accident Fund (333/2024) [2026] ZASCA 13 (6 February 2026)

  
  

Report

• Financial Service Conduct Authority. FSCA Consumer Advisory Panel: Annual Report, 2025. 10 February 2026

HEALTH LAW ALERT: 18 FEBRUARY 2026

Our specialised Alert service referenced the following selected highlights:

Cases

• Moloi v Road Accident Fund (333/2024) [2026] ZASCA 13 (6 February 2026)

• NM obo BM v Member of the Executive Council for Health: Eastern Cape (381/2020) [2026] ZAECMHC 3 (3 February 2026)

  + more cases were referenced

Circular

• Council for Medical Schemes: Circular 4 of 2026: CMS Audit Quality Indicators (AQIs). 9 February 2026

Council for Medical Schemes Appeals Committee rulings

• Bonitas Medical Fund v M obo N (CMS 86486) (24 October 2025)

• Fedhealth Medical Scheme v X obo Y (CMS 86495) (25 October 2025)

• O v Discovery Health Medical Scheme (CMS 86522) (26 October 2025)

Council for Medical Schemes Registrar’s rulings summaries

• D obo D v Discovery Health Medical Scheme (December 2025)

+4 more summaries were included

Journal article

• Nengwekhulu, Mashudu Mukele. Re-engineering medico-legal litigation: Eliminating behavioural dysfunction to achieve efficiency and justice in Limpopo’s medico-legal claims. – 2026 Jan–Feb De Rebus p35

ENERGY LAW ALERT: 19 FEBRUARY 2026

A brief list of highlights from yesterday's issue:

Cases

• Engen Petroleum (Pty) Ltd v Hitech Chemicals (Pty) Ltd and Another (D1613/2025) [2026] ZAKZDHC 4 (3 February 2026)

• Grey Elephant Investments (Pty) Ltd v Knysna Local Municipality (193/25) [2026] ZAWCHC 44 (11 February 2026)

• Pienaar v Engineering Council of South Africa and Others (2024/070316) [2026] ZAGPJHC 122 (17 February 2026)

• Zincede Ngokwakho Housing (Pty) Ltd and Another v Matatiele Local Municipality (844/2024) [2026] ZASCA 17 (13 February 2026)

Consultation Paper

• National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). Consultation Paper on Eskom Retail Tariff Structural Adjustment (ERTSA) Application for Standard Tariffs for FY 2026/27. February 2026.

Consultation Paper | FY2027 ERTSA Eskom Retail tariff and structural adjustment: Application February 2026 | Schedule of Standard Prices for Eskom Tariffs Effective from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 for Non-Local Authority Supplies, and 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 for Local Authority Supplies | Invitation to Comment 

Government Gazette

• Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000: Declaration of premises to be a firearm-free zones: National Energy Regulator of South Africa, 526 Madiba Street, Arcadia, Pretoria subject to conditions. – GN7131 GG 54128 p3 12Feb2026

Notice

• National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). NERSA’s decision to publish electricity tariff applications for City of Ekurhuleni, Msunduzi and Madibeng Municipalities for the 2024/25 financial year. 16 February 2026

Parliamentary Bill

• South African National Petroleum Company Bill 2 of 2026

Report

• South Africa Electricity Traders Association (SAETA). Policy to power. February 2026

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Image design: Daniélle Geldenhuys

Date posted: 20 February 2026