Virtual Commissioning of Affidavits:
What the Africa’s Best Foods Judgment Means for Legal and Professional Practice
The increasing use of virtual platforms has fundamentally changed how legal professionals interact with clients, witnesses and colleagues across borders. However, South Africa’s legislation governing the commissioning of affidavits has not necessarily kept pace with these technological developments.
In Africa’s Best Foods (Pty) Ltd v ED Food S.R.L, the Gauteng High Court, sitting as a Full Court, considered whether affidavits commissioned virtually, where the commissioners of oaths were physically present in South Africa and the deponents were situated in Italy, complied with the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act and its Regulations.
Date:
9 September 2026
Time:
13:00-13:45
Platform:
Zoom
Cost:
R220
CPD Points:
0.5
Cost:
R220
CPD Points:
0.5
The judgment provides important guidance on the requirement that a deponent sign an affidavit “in the presence” of a commissioner of oaths, the territorial authority of South African commissioners, the treatment of affidavits executed abroad, and the circumstances in which a court may nevertheless admit an improperly commissioned affidavit in the interests of justice.
Key topics
In this session, the following key topics will be discussed:
- The facts and key findings in Africa’s Best Foods (Pty) Ltd v ED Food S.R.L
- Why virtual commissioning does not comply with the current requirement for physical presence under Regulation 3(1)
- The territorial authority of South African commissioners of oaths and the distinction between administering an oath in South Africa and abroad
- How affidavits executed outside South Africa may validly be commissioned and authenticated
- The courts’ discretion to condone non-compliance where there has been substantial compliance and admission is in the interests of justice
- Practical implications for attorneys, tax practitioners and other professionals obtaining affidavits from clients or deponents situated abroad
- Q&A
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Who Should Join?
Tax Practitioners
& Tax Consultants
Payments Administrators
Debtors
& Creditors Clerks
Accountants
Auditors & Trainees
Financial Administrators
Directors & Business Owners
Business & Legal Compliance Officers
Payroll Administrators
Meet
The Speaker
Meet The Speaker
Darren Britz is a Partner and the Head of Tax Legal at
Tax Consulting SA.
He is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa, specialising in South African tax with a focus on cross-border tax advisory and implementation for multi-national companies and high-net worth individuals.