Mining law firm Emery Mukendi Wafwana & Associates (Cabemery), based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), reports that its South African clients have reacted positively to the company’s new branch, Cabemery & Partners, in Sandton, north of Johannesburg.

The new office, which was opened in September 2010, employs four local staff and aims to employ three more individuals this year. The company currently has six clients in South Africa, four of which are mining companies operating mainly in the gold and diamond industries.

“The Sandton branch enables Cabemery & Partners to service its South African clients at home, whereas before they had to travel to the DRC for business or investment,” says Cabemery & Partners’ Alex Mbikayi.

The company opened a new branch in New York, in the US, late last year. Mbikayi says that the benefit of opening these new branches is that it will help bring together African and international investors seeking to invest in Africa.

The company aims to promote and better inform investors of mining laws, which will make it easier for investment in the DRC, as well as other African countries.

Acquiring Investment

“Individuals and companies investing in mining operations may not follow the correct procedures required by law because they are not aware of these,” says Mbikayi.

This results in the investors losing money, which creates a negative image of the country. The firm wants to assist in finding solutions to integrating mining laws to enable successful investment.

Mining law constitutes one of Cabemery & Partners’ main activities.

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