Talk is cheap: The legal reality of verbal agreements in South Africa

Ever sealed a deal on a call or over coffee and wondered if it would stand up if things went south? In this episode of CDH Conversations, Roxanne Bain in the Corporate & Commercial practice, and Belinda Scriba, in the Dispute Resolution practice, unpack when a verbal agreement is legally enforceable in South Africa, where the real risks lie, and the simple steps you can take to protect yourself. They break down the “no‑go” categories that must be in writing, the grey areas where verbal deals are common, and why evidence can make or break your case.  If you move at speed and do business in the real world, this is a practical, jargon‑free guide to doing it safely. You will walk away knowing how to turn a handshake into something you can rely on, what clauses in your existing contracts can trip you up, and how to document just enough, just in time, to avoid costly disputes later.