By Kgomotso Ramotsho

Like many organisations that had to cancel or postpone their gatherings, the South African Professional Services Awards (SAPSA) sponsored by Sanlam and W. Consulting, could not host its fifth annual awards ceremony to honour professionals from various sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The organisation said on its website that due to the National State of Disaster announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ensuing lockdown regulations they had to postpone the event indefinitely.

However, the winners of the 2020 SAPSA awards, were announced on the organisation’s website. A few legal practitioners and a law firm were among the winners. The Chairperson of the Adjudication Panel, Janette Minnaar, said the winners were determined by a host of attributes, including –

• demonstration of leadership skills;
• changing of paradigms; and
• innovation within the bounds of available resources.

Ms Minnaar added that the SAPSA confers a number of Lifetime Achievement Awards to deserving recipients who had served their professions faithfully for many years. The firm awards were based on ­–

• business growth;
• customer service;
• technical excellence;
• contribution to the community;
• contribution to the profession;
• transformation record;
• commitment to ethics; and

The following individuals in the legal profession and law firm were announced among the winners of SAPSA 2020 in the following categories:

• Young law professional of the year

  • Nozizwe Ncayiyana (ENS Africa).

• Law firm of the year

  • Webber Wentzel.

• Law professional of the year

  • Tshepo Shabangu (Spoor & Fisher), with judges’ commendation for Christo Els (Webber Wentzel).

• Lifetime Achievement Awards

  • Fatima Laher (Bowmans); and
  • Andrew Skipper (Hogan Lovells).

Kgomotso Ramotsho Cert Journ (Boston) Cert Photography (Vega) is the news reporter at De Rebus.