Changes to Standard Form Contracts

Welcome to Season 3 of The Cox Yeats Podcast with your host, Harshita Kapoor. In this first episode, we unpack the legal realities of South Africa’s built environment with three top attorneys from Cox Yeats: Peter Barnard, Chantal Mitchell, and Claudel Pretorius. Together, they explore the practical use and misuse of standard form contracts like JBCC, FIDIC, NEC, and GCC; how these agreements shape public and private construction projects; what happens when contracts are amended poorly; and how legal strategies can mitigate risk for contractors and developers alike. 

Whether you're a developer, engineer, quantity surveyor, or legal practitioner, this episode is packed with real-world insights and cautionary tales that will reshape how you view construction contracts. 
 
 
⏱ Timestamped Overview 

00:15 – Introduction to the episode and guest bios 
02:22 – Overview of standard form contracts (JBCC, FIDIC, NEC, GCC) 
04:09 – What contracts are typically used in public vs private sectors 
05:17 – Why the state still uses the 2005 JBCC version & associated risks 
07:01 – Common amendments to contracts and how they go wrong
10:46 – How contractors can deal with problematic contract clauses
13:37 – Penalties tied to multiple completion dates: legal issues
16:58 – “Time at large” and why some penalties may be unenforceable 
20:23 – The “equity contribution” clause that failed in arbitration  
22:42 – Fixed-term contracts vs real construction realities 
25:50 – EOT claims blocked by disruption clauses: interdict challenges 
28:59 – Negotiation vs legal action: when good faith talks backfire 
30:25 – Burdening the courts with urgent interdicts 
32:00 – Final takeaways: know the risks, qualify tenders, or plan legal strategy 

 

Quote of the Episode 

“Trying to rewrite these contracts, which are not fit for purpose, is like trying to put a square peg into a round hole.” – Peter Barnard 
 
 
 
 
👣 Relevant Links 
 
Peter Barnard Website: Cox Yeats - Peter Barnard  
Peter Barnard LinkedIn: Peter Barnard - Cox Yeats | LinkedIn  
 
Chantal Mitchell Website: Cox Yeats - Chantal Mitchell 
Chantal Mitchell LinkedIn: Chantal Mitchell - Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Professional Profile | LinkedIn 
 
Claudelle Pretorius Website: Cox Yeats - Claudelle Pretorius 
Claudelle Pretorius LinkedIn: Claudelle Pretorius - Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | Professional Profile | LinkedIn 

 
 
 
🌐 Connect with Cox Yeats 

🔗 Website: https://www.coxyeats.co.za/  
📘 LinkedIn: https://za.linkedin.com/company/cox-yeats  
🎧 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@coxyeats8892