About Us
Who is Smuts & Co?
That is an easy question to answer. We are a medium sized law firm in the heart of Durbanville in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town, but that is only a small part of our story.
Smuts & Co Attorneys was incorporated as a company in 2013. Prior to incorporation, Anri Smuts was the senior director and head of the conveyancing department at Smuts Kemp & Smal Attorneys for 20 years. With the assistance of Natasha Davidtz, the Conveyancing department grew to a well-known entity in the legal fraternity.
During 2011 Karen Zaaiman merged her firm with Smuts Kemp & Smal Attorneys to collectively form Smuts & Co Attorneys thereby creating a formidable team in the property world.
Our story continues with the opening of our litigation department during 2014 and Tshepang Mabayo joining the management as Director during 2017.
However, our business would be nothing without our hand-picked team of Attorneys and Paralegals whose dedication and work ethic are the back bone of our company. The directors never cease to be pleasantly surprised when staff members mention that they enjoy working at Smuts & Co and appreciate the informal atmosphere and lifestyle oriented perks.
We actively support Economic Empowerment (BEE) initiative by allocating much needed resources to educating the youth. We continue to grant annual bursaries to previously disadvantaged law students and are extremely proud of our candidate attorney program where we train future legal eagles with direct and relevant hands-on exposure.
Our pro bono projects include legal assistance at the Deeds Office as well as our initiation of a project to supply free wills to our local communities who need such assistance.
On a personal level we strive to be friendly, prompt and practical but yet so relaxed with clients that even our legalese can be understood by anyone.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds and to be part of the next chapter in the story of Smuts & Co!
However, our business would be nothing without our hand-picked team of Attorneys and Paralegals whose dedication and work ethic are the back bone of our company. The directors never cease to be pleasantly surprised when staff members mention that they enjoy working at Smuts & Co and appreciate the informal atmosphere and lifestyle oriented perks.
We actively support Economic Empowerment (BEE) initiative by allocating much needed resources to educating the youth. We continue to grant annual bursaries to previously disadvantaged law students and are extremely proud of our candidate attorney program where we train future legal eagles with direct and relevant hands-on exposure.
Our pro bono projects include legal assistance at the Deeds Office as well as our initiation of a project to supply free wills to our local communities who need such assistance.
On a personal level we strive to be friendly, prompt and practical but yet so relaxed with clients that even our legalese can be understood by anyone.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds and to be part of the next chapter in the story of Smuts & Co!
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Our Professional Staff
Natasha Davidtz
Director
Director
Natasha obtained her BA and LLB degrees from the University of Stellenbosch in 1998 and 2000 respectively. She attended the School for Legal Practice in 2001 and worked as a Candidate Attorney for De Klerk & Van Gend Attorneys in 2002.
Natasha was admitted as an Attorney and Conveyancer in 2002. After getting married, Natasha worked overseas for a year and upon her return, joined Smuts Kemp & Smal Attorneys as an Attorney and Conveyancer in 2004. Natasha was admitted as a Notary Public in 2005. In 2012 Smuts Kemp & Smal split and Natasha was appointed as a Director in Smuts & Co Inc.
Natasha has experience in all aspects of Conveyancing including Developments.
Natasha was admitted as an Attorney and Conveyancer in 2002. After getting married, Natasha worked overseas for a year and upon her return, joined Smuts Kemp & Smal Attorneys as an Attorney and Conveyancer in 2004. Natasha was admitted as a Notary Public in 2005. In 2012 Smuts Kemp & Smal split and Natasha was appointed as a Director in Smuts & Co Inc.
Natasha has experience in all aspects of Conveyancing including Developments.
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Karen Zaaiman
Director
Director
Karen obtained her BComm (Law) and LLB degrees at the University of Stellenbosch and was admitted as attorney and conveyancer in February 2004. Karen completed her debt councillor qualification in 2009 whilst managing her own property law practice under the name of FJMO Attorneys. In 2011 she merged her business with Anri Smuts under the new and improved Smuts & Co Attorneys Inc. Karen furthermore obtained her Master Practitioner in Real Estate qualification (MPRE) and is a registered principal agent at the Estate Agency Affairs Board.
Karen specializes in Property Law, Property Developments, Property Acquisition financing, Trusts and has extensive practical knowledge of all property related matters.
Karen specializes in Property Law, Property Developments, Property Acquisition financing, Trusts and has extensive practical knowledge of all property related matters.
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Zenita Theunissen
Director
Director
Zenita, originally from Hoedspruit in the Limpopo Province, took on the demanding challenge of completing her articles whilst obtaining her degree part time. She received her Bachelors of Laws from the University of South Africa and has more than 13 years’ experience in litigation, collections, family law, estates, property law and conveyancing. Zenita was previously a director of a company appointed as managing agents of sectional title units and is thus well versed in the complicated matters arising from Body Corporates.
Zenita joined the Smuts & Co team in January 2020 and will continue as a Director and Head of the Litigation Department focusing on litigation, evictions and family law.
Zenita joined the Smuts & Co team in January 2020 and will continue as a Director and Head of the Litigation Department focusing on litigation, evictions and family law.
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Rene Barry
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Rene obtained her BA(LLB) in 2001 from the University of Stellenbosch. After completing her articles at Raubenheimers Attorneys in George, she was admitted as an attorney, conveyancer and notary public in 2004 and 2005 respectively. She relocated to Cape Town in 2004, which very quickly became her new home. Her passion is conveyancing, estates and notarial related matters and she has endeavoured to become a property law specialist.
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Marlene Els
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Attorney, Notary & Conveyancer
Marlene obtained her LLB Law Degree from the North West University of Potchefstroom. She worked as a Candidate for Attorney Laubscher & Hattingh INC in 2017 while she completed her Practical examination at the Cape Law Society. Marlene was admitted as an Attorney at the Western Cape High Court, Cape Town in 2019 whereafter she practiced as an Attorney at Conradie INC in Worcester. She opened her own firm, MDP Attorneys, as a sole practitioner specialising in General litigation and especially family law. During 2021 she was also admitted as a Conveyancer and as she wanted to specialise in Conveyancing, she started to practice as a Conveyancer at Smuts & CO INC during 2022. Marlene was further admitted as a Notary in 2024. Marlene has experience in litigation but her main focus is on all aspects of Conveyancing, including Developments.
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