Van Wyk Van Heerden Attorneys

Die Maatskappywet 71 van 2008 (“die Wet”) spesifiseer dat ‘n maatskappy en maatskappy aangeleenthede bestuur moet word onder die beheer van ‘n raad van direkteure, wie die bevoegdhede moet hê om al die magte en funksies binne die maatskappy struktuur te kan uitoefen. Die algemene magte van die raad van direkteure word gereguleer deur die Wet en mag ook beperk word in terme van die maatskappy se Memorandum van Inkorporasie (“MOI”).

Daar word van die direkteure van ‘n maatskappy vereis om hul magte op so manier uit te oefen om uitvoering te gee aan effektiewe bestuur van die maatskappy deur middel van besluite en resolusies wat goedgekeur moet word by direksie vergaderings.

Die vergaderings moet behoorlik belê word deur ‘n kennisgewing van die vergadering vir elke lid van die direksie te gee en daar moet ‘n gepaste quorum teenwoordig wees voor enige vergadering voort kan gaan en daar op enige aangeleentheid besluit mag word.

‘n Direksie vergadering mag enige tyd byeengeroep word deur ‘n direkteur wie deur die raad van direkteure gemagtig is om so te doen. Onderhewig aan die maatskappy se MOI, wat ‘n groter of laer persentasie kan voorskryf, moet ‘n direksie vergadering byeengeroep word as minstens 25% van die direkteure dit vereis (in die geval waar die maatskappy 12 of meer direkteure het), of deur minstens 2 direkteure waar die maatskappy uit minder as 12 direkteure bestaan.

Die Wet vereis dat die vorm van die kennisgewing van vergadering wat aan die direkteure gegee word deur die raad van direkteure bepaal moet word. Verder bepaal die Wet as volg:

  1. Kennisgewing van vergadering moet gegee word aan al die direkteure van die maatskappy; en
  2. Die vorm en kennisgewing periode van die vergadering, soos bepaal deur die raad van direkteure, moet ooreenstem met die vereistes en voorwaardes soos uiteengesit in die MOI van die maatskappy asook die reëls van die maatskappy wat direksie vergaderings reguleer; en
  3. As al die direkteure van die maatskappy ontvangs erken van die kennisgewing, teenwoordig is by die vergadering of die kennisgewingperiode van die vergadering van afstand gedoen het, mag die vergadering voortgaan al het die maatskappy nie daarin geslaag om kennisgewing van die vergadering te verskaf nie, of as die kennisgewing van die vergadering foutiewelik plaasgevind het (behalwe as die MOI anders vereis); en
  4. Waar geen spesifieke tydstip voorgeskryf word in die MOI vir kennisgewing van ‘n direksievergadering nie, moet ‘n redelike regverdige periode gegee word aan elke direkteur; en
  5. Die standaard quorum vir ‘n direksie vergadering is die meerderheid van die direkteure, behalwe waar die MOI anders bepaal.

As ‘n direkteur ‘n persoonlike finansiële belang in ‘n aangeleentheid het waaroor daar by ‘n direksie vergadering beslis moet word (byvoorbeeld: ‘n direkte belang van ‘n finansiële of ekonomiese aard, of ‘n belang waaraan ‘n geldelike waarde gevoeg kan word), sit artikel 75(5) van die Wet die stappe uiteen wat ‘n direkteur in so ‘n geval moet volg, naamlik;

  1. Die direkteur moet die belang en die aard van die belang openbaar aan die direksie voordat die saak oorweeg word by die direksie vergadering;
  2. Die direkteur moet enige materiële inligting wat relevant is tot die aangeleentheid openbaar aan die direksie;
  3. Die direkteur moet enige waarnemings of insigte relevant tot die aangeleentheid openbaar aan die direksie indien hy of sy so versoek sou word deur lede van die direksie;
  4. Die direkteur moet dadelik die vergadering verlaat na afloop van sy openbaarmaking;
  5. Die direkteur mag nie deelneem aan die besluitneming en bespreking rakende die betrokke aangeleentheid nie;
  6. Die direkteur mag nie enige dokument bekragtig of onderteken namens die maatskappy met betrekking tot die spesifieke aangeleentheid nie, behalwe wanneer die direkteur daartoe magtig gemaak is deur die direksie.

Waar ‘n direkteur afwesig is van die vergadering as gevolg van die bogenoemde prosesse, word hy of sy as teenwoordig geag ter bepaling van die nodige quorum, maar sal nie as teenwoordig geag word rakende die goedkeuring van ‘n besluit nie.

Elke direkteur het een stem in verband met ‘n betrokke aangeleentheid, en die meerderheid stemme wat uitgeoefen word ten opsigte van ‘n resolusie is voldoende om dit te laat slaag, behalwe waar die MOI van die maatskappy anders bepaal. In die geval waar daar gelyke stemme is, sal die Voorsitter van die direksie ‘n beslissende stem uitoefen slegs waar hy of sy nie oorspronklik gestem het nie, maar in enige ander geval sal die betrokke resolusie nie slaag nie.

‘n Maatskappy moet ‘n rekord hou van al sy direksie vergaderings se notules om sodoende te kan verifieer wat besluit is by watter vergadering. Die notules moet elke resolusie bevat wat by die betrokke vergaderings geneem is en geslaag het asook enige verklarings wat gemaak is in verband met persoonlike finansiële belang, indien dit toepaslik is.

Behalwe waar die Wet of die MOI anders bepaal, mag direksie vergaderings deur middel van elektroniese kommunikasie plaasvind, gegewe dat elektroniese kommunikasie toelaat dat alle individue wat moet deelneem aan die direksie vergadering ‘n redelike kans gegun word om deel te neem aan die vergadering en redelik kan kommunikeer met ander betrokke partye sonder ‘n tussenganger.

Die Wet bepaal ook dat enige besluit wat op gestem kan word by die formele direksie vergadering, ook geneem kan word deur middel van ‘n resolusie deur die meerderheid van die direkteure waar toestemming gegee kan word in persoon of deur middel van elektroniese kommunikasie. Besluite kan net goedgekeur word en slaag op hierdie wyse as die direkteur kennisgewing ontvang het van die aangeleentheid. Hierdie geskrewe resolusies sal dieselfde effek hê as ‘n besluit wat by ‘n formele vergadering goedgekeur is.

Hierdie artikel is ‘n algemene inligtingstuk en moet nie gebruik word of op staatgemaak word as regs- of ander professionele advies nie. Geen aanspreeklikheid kan aanvaar word vir enige foute of weglatings of vir enige verlies of skade voortspruitend uit vertroue geplaas op inligting hierin vervat nie. Behoudens foute en weglatings (BFW).

Bianca obtained her LLB degree from the University of Pretoria in 2013. She was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court in 2016 and subsequent as a Conveyancer in 2018. She specializes in the drafting of contracts, conveyancing and all other property related matters. She is dedicated to excellent service and good client relations.

Danie began his law career in Pretoria, Gauteng, where he opened his own law firm in 1994. Through Danie’s knowledge of the world of media and entertainment his clientele extends to music artists, celebrities, television, and film production houses. In 2000 Danie founded the firm West & Rossouw with colleague Sharon West in the Cape Town Southern Suburbs until March 2024 when Danie accepted an appointment to relocate to the fast growing Cape Winelands to join van Wyk van Heerden in their Paarl office. Danie has a strong interest in family law and High Court litigation, with vast experience in several jurisdictions and high-profile cases in the High Court, the Supreme Court of Appeal, and the Constitutional Court. Danie has been actively involved in the organized profession and served on the Cape Law Society and the Law Society of South Africa (LSSA) communication committees and several years as vice-president of the Cape Town Southern Suburbs Attorneys’ Association. During August of 2022, Danie was appointed by the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde as the Western Cape Government’s representative on the Council of the Stellenbosch University.

Alicia obtained her LLB degree cum laude from the North-West University, Potchefstroom, in 2020. She commenced her articles during 2020 at Van Velden-Duffey Inc, situated in Rustenburg, where she acted as a candidate attorney in the civil litigation department.

Alicia was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court during early 2023, and currently practices as such in the litigation department of Van Wyk Van Heerden.

Maryna obtained her LLB Degree at the North West University, Potchefstroom. Originally from Clanwilliam, she went to school in Paarl at Paarl Gymnasium and returned to embark on her professional career at our firm. She joined our team in 2021 as an article clerk and was admitted as an Attorney during 2023. Maryna is currently appointed in our Estates Department in the Wellington Office.

Milton is a well organised Attorney passionate about offering multidisciplinary legal service, focusing on the best interest of his clients. He aims to provide impetus to the vision of creating new momentum in transforming the legal system. He values cost effective solutions on various matters of law, persist on a flexible approach and strive to allocate the necessary resources to satisfy his clients' needs.


Milton obtained his LLB degree in 2020 from the University of the North West. He was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa on 3 March 2023. He specializes in Civil and Commercial Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation, Contracts, Sports Law, Construction Disputes and Insolvency.

Anika obtained her LLB in 2020 from the University of Stellenbosch. She completed her articles at Van Wyk Van Heerden in 2022 and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court at the beginning of 2023.

She currently practices in the Conveyancing Department where she assists estate agencies and developers, as well as marketing of the firm.

Gawie obtained his BComm and LLB Degrees at the University of Stellenbosch during 2009 and 2011 respectively. He completed his Master of Laws during 2017 in the Law of Trusts and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning during 2019.

He joined the team at Becker Bergh & More Inc. for his articles in Upington during 2013 and worked at the firm for 9 years attending to litigation, conveyancing and commercial matters. He was admitted as Attorney and Notary Public during 2015 and as a Conveyancer during 2016.

Gawie was appointed in the Conveyancing and Commercial Departments of Van Wyk Van Heerden during 2022 in the Wellington Office, providing clients with expert advice on the structuring of transactions, the registration of Trusts as well as general Conveyancing.

Liesl graduated from the University of Stellenbosch with an LLB degree in 2005.  During University she developed a special interest in and passion for Family Law.  Due to the fact that Liesl specialised during her articles, she completed the Practical Legal Training Course presented by UNISA, in conjunction with her articles, which she commenced with Miller du Toit Cloete Inc in 2006.  She was admitted as an attorney of the Western Cape High Court, with Right of Appearance in 2007.

Liesl co-presented a paper titled “African Charter on the Rights of Children” at the London Metropolitan University Summer School in 2011 and received her Certificate of Completion in this regard.

Liesl commenced her articles at Miller du Toit Cloete Inc, under the guidance of Zenobia du Toit, in 2006 and went on to practise as a Senior Associate there for nearly 14 years. After moving to Paarl, she practised as a director of Family Law at Clark Cupido Attorneys.

Liesl joined Van Wyk Van Heerden Attorneys in April 2022, as head of their Family Law department.  She has practised exclusively in Family law and ancillary matters for 16 years.

Roeline specialises in Estate Administration. Roeline obtained her B.Com Law, LLB and LLM (Estate Law) degrees at North-West University in 2006, 2008 and 2010, respectively.
After she completed her articles in 2010, she joined a financial institution as an estate administrator.

She joined the team in 2022 and attends to all Estate matters.

Aleisha grew up in Durban and relocated to the Western Cape to attend the University of Stellenbosch where she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Dynamics from 2011-2013. Thereafter she obtained her LLB degree through the University of the Free State with distinction from 2014-2017. She joined Van Wyk Van Heerden in 2018 as candidate attorney and gained experience in various fields of the law, with a special interest in Property Law and the Administration of Deceased Estates. After qualifying as an Attorney and Conveyancer during March 2020 Aleisha joined the team assisting in the Conveyancing and Estates Departments of the firm.

Gaynor obtained her LLB degree in 2012 from the University of Stellenbosch. She then completed her articles at a law firm in the North West Province where she gained experience in General Litigation, Family Law and Debt Collection. In 2016 she moved back to the Western Cape and finally joined the firm in November 2018 where she currently heads up the Debt Recovery Department.

Mariska obtained her Bachelor of Arts and LLB degree from Stellenbosch University in 2018 and 2020 respectively. She completed her Master of Laws, with a special interest in Children’s Rights, in 2021.

She commenced her articles at Van Wyk Van Heerden in 2022 and was admitted as an Attorney of the High Court at the start of 2024.

She currently practices in the Litigation Department where she assists with, inter alia, Magistrate Court litigation; Divorces; and Evictions.

Leonette completed her studies at the University of Pretoria and obtained her LLB degree in 2009. She practised in Rustenburg for 8 years and specialised in debt Recovery, debt review and related matters.

Leonette joined the firm in 2017 and manages all correspondent work.

Carla grew up in the Free State and decided to relocate to the Cape Winelands to study law at Stellenbosch University. She obtained her LLB degree in 2002 and furthered her studies at the University of Cape Town’s School for Legal Practice where she received the Dean’s award for the best student in Business Management and Administration.

She joined the litigation department at Van der Spuy & Partners as a candidate attorney where-after she decided to pursue a career in property and commercial law, specializing in sectional title schemes, security estates and developments, servitudes, subdivisions and consolidations as well as commercial contracting.

Carla heads up the Conveyancing Department of the firm and mainly assists estate agencies and developers and is actively involved in the marketing of the company.

Charl obtained his law degree at the North West University in 2008. And finalised his articles at Van Velden & Duffey Attorneys where after he practised at the same firm and became a director in 2014.

Charl was recruited by Van Wyk Van Heerden in 2017 to strengthen and assist our growing litigation department. He handles a wide range of litigation matters including company, family, insolvency, banking and delictual law.

"Quick, practical and commercial resolution is first priority"

Willem van Heerden is a Director at Van Wyk Van Heerden in the dispute resolution, litigation and mediation department. He specialises in contractual disputes, company law, shareholder issues, evictions, family law, banking law and insolvency law. He provides sound strategic advice and direction on all commercial and company issues.

He is an accredited commercial mediator as well as a business rescue practitioner.

He has encouraged the appropriate use of mediation in the resolution of all disputes.

He has acted for various international and cross border trade, transport, agricultural and construction companies. Willem has acted for major banks, insurance houses, leading retailers, property groups as well as high network of entrepreneurs and individuals. He serves as a trustee on a number of trusts.

Willem has written various articles and is a co-author of a published legal book on farm evictions.

Qualifications

  • BCom (Northwest University)
  • LLB (Northwest University)
  • Postgraduate Diploma (VRIJE University Amstelveen )
  • Admitted as an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa
  • Accredited Business Rescue Practitioner (University of South Africa)
  • Accredited Commercial Mediator

Nazlee Abrahams grew up in Paarl and obtained the degrees B.Sc. and LLB from the University of Stellenbosch in 1992 and 1997 respectively.

She commenced with her articles at Van Wyk Fouchee in 1998 and was admitted as an Attorney with right of appearance in the High Court in 2000 after which she consequently became a Director at the firm.

In October of 2002 she was admitted as Conveyancer and also Notary Public in 2006. She currently manages Bonds registrations in the Conveyancing Department and further specialises in family & marriage law, drafting of wills, administration of estates and all notarial work.

Nazlee makes a valuable contribution in pro-bono work when the opportunity arises and invests a considerable amount of time in community service. She also serves as the current Chairperson of the governing body of William Lloyd Primary.

Anville specialises in Property Law, General Commercial Law, Estate and Tax Planning, Administration of Deceased Estates and Trust Law. Through the years, he contributed to the community life in Paarl. He was a founding member of the Drakenstein Rotary Club in Paarl, founding member of the Paarl Attorneys Association, served as Captain, President and Chairman of the board of the Paarl Golf Club and has played a major role in establishing the Boschenmeer Golf and Country Estate.

Anville obtained his BA LLB degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 1974. He served his articles with Silberbauers Attorneys in Cape Town and joined Solomon Miller, Hymie Maisel and Willem Gaum in Paarl in May 1977.

He is an experienced and seasoned attorney who commenced his career in litigation and migrated into Commercial, Trust and Tax work. He obtained his post graduate diploma in Tax Law at the University of Cape Town, with distinction, in 1993.

Anville celebrated his 40th year in practice in 2017.