Proudly South African is expanding its support for small businesses beyond branding and local procurement by tackling one of the most overlooked challenges – legal compliance.
During a recently hosted legal webinar, the organisation helped SMEs understand the laws that govern labour relations contracts, intellectual property and regulatory compliance.
“The purpose of this webinar is to help SMEs not find themselves in crisis where you haven’t read the fine print and your business is now stuck and has to get millions of rands to get out of a legal battle,” said the Proudly SA facilitator Anele Ndlovu.
The initiative forms part of Proudly SA’s broader effort to help local businesses build strong, sustainable foundations that reduce legal risk and support long-term growth.
According to Christiaan Steyn, owner of Steyn IP and a practising attorney, whose firm specialises in intellectual property (IP) law, SMEs should take active steps to protect their businesses, brands and intellectual property.
“SMEs should always remember that intellectual property is an asset to their business. You can generate additional revenue through licensing, leverage it in negotiations and even secure loans against it,” said Steyn.
“Intellectual property adds value to your business. Intellectual property needs to be protected in each country or region. It’s more than just a legal requirement; it can bring real financial benefits when it is properly secured and understood.”
Steyn warned that SMEs often overlooked vital components of their IP, such as trademarks, patents, copyrights, designs and trade secrets, all of which could strengthen their business if properly protected.
“Reach out to an intellectual property attorney before making your inventions public. If you disclose them too early, you may lose the ability to obtain an enforceable patent. Your design is the aesthetic of your brand, and it deserves protection,” he advised.
Another senior consultant attorney from Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys, Nicolette Biggar, advised SMEs to pay close attention to the fine print in all business agreements, especially as part of their IP commercialisation strategy.
“Intellectual property is just as important for entrepreneurs as it is for blue chip companies. SMEs should invest in and commercialise their IP. No type of IP is more valuable than another. It all depends on your business model and strategy,” said Biggar.
Also speaking at the webinar, Phindulo Munyai, an attorney from Tshaya Mashabela Attorneys, highlighted the importance of clear employment agreements to ensure labour law compliance.
“It’s very important for SMEs to have a clear, written employment contract that creates defined rights and obligations between the employer and the employee. This ensures that both legal protection for the business,” said Munyai.
As Proudly SA continues to roll out support programmes focused on legal compliance, SMEs are reminded that legal literacy is not about avoiding risks, but about building businesses that are protected.
