Bibliographie sélective OHADA

Pour répondre à la mouvance des mutations économiques dues à la mondialisation, 16 États africains ont signé le Traité relatif à l'Harmonisation du Droit des Affaires en Afrique, créant ainsi l'Organisation pour l'Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires (OHADA) le 17 octobre 1993. L'objectif de l'OHADA est de créer des droits relatifs aux affaires, droits modernes et adaptés au contexte africain, afin de permettre une meilleure intégration économique et un développement harmonieux de l'Afrique. Ainsi, l'Acte Uniforme portant Organisation et Harmonisation des comptabilités des entreprises des États parties du Traité a été adopté le 24 mars 2000. Le 1er janvier 2001, toutes les entreprises étaient donc tenues de passer au système comptable OHADA pour les comptes personnels (d'entreprises), et le 1er janvier 2002 pour les comptes consolidés. Avant l'adoption de cette nouvelle normalisation comptable, les pays de l'Afrique Noire Francophone (dont le Cameroun), dans leur majorité, utilisaient le plan comptable OCAM, calqué des plans comptables généraux français de 1947 et 1957. L'objectif de notre recherche est de comparer l'impact du format de présentation et du contenu informationnel des deux modes de divulgation de l'information comptable sur les jugements et décisions des banquiers. La question est de savoir si l'information résultant du nouveau système comptable OHADA modifie les jugements et décisions des agents de prêt, comparativement à celle résultant de l'ancien plan comptable OCAM. Le changement de norme comptable a principalement amené les agents de prêt camerounais à modifier leurs jugements initiaux relatifs à la rentabilité et à la structure financière ainsi que leurs jugements sous-jacents (bénéfice d'exploitation, bénéfice net, endettement, liquidité et capacité d'injection de ressources); par contre, les différences notées pour ces jugements sous-jacents et initiaux ne les ont pas conduit à modifier leurs jugements principaux de la cote de risque et de sa tendance, ni les décisions de prêt et de fixation du taux d'intérêt. Lorsque le changement considère aussi le TAFlRE (tableau financier des ressources et emplois), les agents de prêt ne modifient que leur jugement initial de la rentabilité et leurs jugements sous-jacents du bénéfice d'exploitation, du bénéfice net, des flux de trésorerie ainsi que celui de l'endettement. Lorsque les deux groupes expérimentaux sont comparés, on constate un effet relativement Iimité du TAFIRE puisque seuls les jugements sous-jacents du bénéfice d'exploitation, de l'endettement, de la liquidité, de la capacité d'injection de ressources ainsi que le jugement initial de la structure financière sont différents. De plus, les états financiers du SYSCOHADA semblent avoir eu un effet relativement positif sur les jugements sous-jacents (bénéfice d'exploitation, bénéfice net et flux de trésorerie) et le jugement initial de la rentabilité pour les participants des deux groupes expérimentaux ainsi qu'un effet relativement positif sur les jugements sous-jacents (endettement, liquidité et capacité d'injection de ressources) et le jugement initial de la structure financière uniquement pour les participants du premier groupe.

Banks are one of the most important elements in the economic cycle of modem society. As money replaced bartering banks have gradually moved into the pivotal point of the relations between participants in the economic cycle. No project can be realized without money today. On the one hand, there are the investors who, irrespective of the amount, entrust their assets to the banks. On the other hand, there are those whose financial needs require the granting of some form of credit. Banks operating in these contexts clearly bear important responsibilities towards the different parties. A third party, the state, is also interested in a well-functioning banking establishment. Economic stability, without which there can be no political stability, cannot otherwise be ensured. The state is accordingly keenly interested in maintaining the operability of this system. To this end, various laws are made in the respective countries aimed at supervising the banking industry. This work deals with some of the legislation relating to bank supervision in the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of South Africa. In the various chapters certain aspects of bank supervision in the two countries are identified, juxtaposed and compared. The reasons for any differences are sought, discussed and where possible explained. From a historical point of view, the two countries developed differently. Nevertheless, the need to regulate this sector through legislative means arose at an early stage in both. Unfortunately, the catalyst for legislative development was mostly some or other financial crisis. Any measures for supervising banks must, to be binding, be constitutional. In this regard much must still be done in South Africa due to the fact that the New Constitution has only been in force since 1996. Thus certain regulations stemming from the Banks Act 90 of 1994 need to be reconsidered in the light of the constitution. Bank supervisory activity is performed by a national institution in both countries. Germany avails itself of an independent authority. However, in South Africa it is one of the tasks of the central bank which has established a specific office for this purpose. Legal and natural persons alike are subject to such supervision. Diverse other government institutions provide support for such supervisory work in both countries. The scope of banking supervision, that is the persons and transactions affected, is broad and also finely meshed. Both systems list a number of banking transactions that are subject to their supervision. This affects all domestic banks and all foreign banks that are domestically active. Access to the banking business is only permitted in both countries after an appropriate license has been granted. The license can be conditional. Moreover, both systems make provision for the revocation of the license in appropriate circumstances. The conducting of banking business without the necessary permission is forbidden in both countries under the threat of legal punishment. It is well recognized in modem society that legal subjects should be protected against the decisions of those who wield state power. The possible remedies of those affected by the decisions of the public authorities responsible for banking supervision in the different countries are investigated in conclusion.

Corporate governance is defined as the system by which companies are managed and controlled. The concept came to the fore with the Cadbury Report in England in 1992 and has since been the topic of much academic discussion. The recent collapse of companies like Enron and WorldCom raised serious questions about international corporate governance practices. This has resulted in widespread reform. In the United States large-scale prescriptive measures were implemented through the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The United Kingdom persisted with their principle-based approach of comply or explain, although some amendments were made to the Combined Code through a joint effort by the Co-ordinating Group on Audit and Accounting Issues, the Smith Report and the Higgs Report. In Australia change took the form of the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and CLERP 9. South Africa, influenced by its common law background, followed a similar approach to that of the United Kingdom but has recently adopted a more prescriptive approach similar to that of the US. The King Committee was set up to review corporate governance in South Africa and two reports report were published – one in 1994 and another in 2002. Amendments to the JSE Listings Requirements followed. The Konar Report made recommendations on the reform of the accounting and auditing profession. The Department of Trade and Industry has recently launched a review of South African company law in conjunction with a review of the audit and accounting professions. These recent developments in company law will however not be discussed in depth as it is at a very early stage and is still subject to change. The aim of this study is to evaluate and determine whether or not the reform in South Africa is adequate to address the questions raised by recent corporate scandals in South Africa. The question also has to be asked whether South Africa should follow international trends in reform just for the sake of reforming. This requires an understanding of the principles underlying corporate governance and the reasons for the existence of corporate governance rules. With the increasing separation between ownership and control the accountability of directors has waned considerably. When addressing corporate governance issues, this must be kept in mind constantly. While the focus of recent reform has been on the company, its directors and auditors, the role of shareholders should not be ignored. What is needed to prevent directors and managers from abusing their positions of power are more informed and involved shareholders. The different role players must also cooperate in developing a culture of ethical behaviour and an environment of openness and accountability.

Ce mémoire cherche à déterminer l’impact juridique de l’adoption des nouvelles dispositions en matière de harcèlement psychologique au travail dans la Loi sur les normes du travail, sur le régime légal préexistant concernant le harcèlement au travail. En effet, la généralité des termes de la définition utilisée englobe un grand nombre de situations déjà couvertes par d’autres recours. L’étude des dispositions législatives des différents régimes, ainsi que de la jurisprudence sur le harcèlement en milieu de travail permet de constater que les recours préexistants conservent une utilité pour les victimes. Toutefois, le choix du recours doit tenir compte des différents modèles de compétence, qui varient selon les dispositions et la nature du litige, dans son contexte factuel.

A critical and in-depth discussion of the powers of the labour court to review arbitration awards of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, the application of the author's findings relating to common-law, legislation and case law and a critical analysis thereof. Special reference is made to the provisions of sections 145 and 158(1)(g) of the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 including, in particular, the alternative application thereof in practice and scope for improvement in order to address potential prejudice to parties occasioned by the compulsory nature of (certain) dispute resolutions. This thesis incorporates a comparative study of the British and German labour law systems with reference to the relevant appeal and/or review procedures (as applied in their tribunals/courts), together with a discussion and application of certain other provisions relevant to South Africa labour law.