Page 5 - Business Sense-11.4 - KZN Top Business Awards Supplement -EBOOK

LEADING WITH PURPOSE:

THE WOMEN DRIVING TRANSFORMATION

t Cox Yeats, perspectives, and aligns with the firm. Female partners lead high-
transformation is a living diversity of the clients and the impact matters, from Labour
Areality, embedded in our country we serve. Appeal Court disputes to large-
leadership, team structure, and The advancement of women scale construction arbitration and
approach to shaping the future cross-border maritime litigation,
of legal services in South Africa. at Cox Yeats stems from an while shaping legal frameworks
intentional culture rooted in
This Women’s Month, we celebrate merit, integrity, and initiative for planning, compliance, and
the women of Cox Yeats for their since our founding in 1964. land development. Their work
legal expertise, commitment to advances industries, strengthens
our values, mentorship of the next Our values: integrity, caring, regulatory environments, and
individuality, innovation,
generation, and dedication to adaptability, approachability, and empowers businesses.
fostering an inclusive profession.
dynamism, guide our service and Beyond legal expertise, women
Women hold 50% of our internal development. Female in key business functions
partnership roles, excelling leaders embody these values daily, drive the firm’s efficiency,
in diverse areas such as whether managing infrastructure responsiveness, and growth.
maritime, construction, disputes, navigating corporate They ensure alignment with
litigation, compliance, business transactions, or mentoring junior our client service promise and
law, property, and planning. attorneys. Many partners began as strategic objectives.
They are decision-makers, candidate attorneys at Cox Yeats,
Transformation is an ongoing
relationship-builders, and and today, they mentor emerging journey at Cox Yeats. We are
problem-solvers central to the professionals, fostering continuity, committed to building a firm that
firm’s operations. Additionally, excellence, and shared success.
57% of our Associates and 59% reflects South Africa’s diversity,
Cox Yeats is actively reshaping
of our candidate attorneys are the legal profession’s historical creativity, and resilience, creating
platforms for women to lead
women. women also lead key lack of gender parity at senior and inspire. To the women of
business services functions,
including finance, marketing, levels. Our Level 1 B-BBEE Cox Yeats, thank you for your
recruitment, legal support, and contributor status reflects our leadership and excellence. Your
contributions shape our firm and
commitment to a transformed,
office administration.
inclusive practice, offering clients its future. 
This representation enhances the procurement advantages and
quality of our thinking, broadens alignment with a purpose-driven W: www.coxyeats.co.za

CAN CITIZENS TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE STATE

TO MAINTAIN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE?

Richard Hoal, Partner, compelling them to effectively scope of responsibility and
Cox Yeats deal with the situation? that the maintenance costs
of a paved road network was
This question came before
e see the High Court in Umtata in approximately R1.8 million
more a judgment handed down in per kilometre. given their
Wand July 2025. budget limitations annually, the
more critical A local residents’ association Department had to engage with
Municipalities to prioritise road
infrastructure brought an application against maintenance based on the needs
failures and the Department of Transport, of each respective community.
deterioration, directing them to repair the The Department had to
both within surface and undertake all the acknowledge the need for road
local and necessary work to restore a upgrades that the applicants had
metropolitan main road to good condition. requested and contended that
Municipalities.
The Court accepted that considerable progress had been
Raw sewerage in the streets the resident association had made with the budget approved
is a common sight, potholes legal standing to bring the and contractors appointed.
prevail, and stormwater application. The applicant The Court accepted that it was
drainage fails repeatedly. It put up extensive evidence the respondents’ responsibility main road within 120 days of the failure to implement important
is commonplace that despite of complaints being lodged and constitutional role, date of the Order, and ordered and necessary infrastructural
residents paying rates and with councillors and the local and accepted, although the that the respondents pay the cost maintenance or upgrades.
making multiple complaints to municipality, with no tangible Municipalities had an interest in of the application. Citizens can be confident in
authorities, the situation does results. The Court considered the matter, it was not required for Conclusion taking a more active approach
not improve. the effect of the inaccessible the Municipalities to be joined to to holding local and national
road on the applicants’ daily This case serves as a reminder
Citizens have various lives, their ability to shop, the proceedings. that the Courts will intervene governments responsible for
constitutional rights, including access to banking services and The Court accepted that where the State fails to fulfilling their constitutional
the freedom of movement and get to work, learners’ ability to the applicants had clearly discharge its constitutional mandates to effect repairs
access to essential services, as get to school, access to medical demonstrated their rights were obligations and where citizens to ageing and failing
well as to approach a Court facilities as well as the impact being infringed upon, as well as or local associations can show infrastructure. 
when a right in the Bill of of poorly positioned drainage the deplorable state of the road, extensive complaints and
Rights has been infringed. pipes causing flooding and an and that they had no other requests for assistance which E: rhoal@coxyeats.co.za
additional slippery road surface remedy available. have remained unanswered. W: www.coxyeats.co.za
Can citizens or local resident
associations take the local causing danger. The Court issued an Order that It is not sufficient for the State
or national Government to The respondents argued the Department was directed to to point to budget limitations
Court to obtain Court Orders that they had a significant repair, resurface and restore the as an exclusive answer to its

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