Open navigation
Search
Offices – South Africa
Explore all Offices
Global Reach

Apart from offering expert legal consultancy for local jurisdictions, CMS partners up with you to effectively navigate the complexities of global business and legal environments.

Explore our reach
Insights – South Africa
Explore all insights
Search
Expertise
Insights

CMS lawyers can provide future-facing advice for your business across a variety of specialisms and industries, worldwide.

Explore topics
Offices
Global Reach

Apart from offering expert legal consultancy for local jurisdictions, CMS partners up with you to effectively navigate the complexities of global business and legal environments.

Explore our reach
CMS South Africa
Insights
About CMS

Select your region

Kabelo Dlothi
Director

Kabelo Dlothi

Co-Head of Corporate & Commercial

Languages
  • English
  • Sesotho
  • Xhosa
Social media

Kabelo is a Director and Co-Head of the Corporate and Commercial team. He has over 20 years of experience in practice. 

Before joining CMS, Kabelo worked for other well-known domestic and international law firms.  

He has experience in corporate/ M&A transactions in various sectors (both private and public transactions) ranging from Private Equity, Financial Services, Energy, Infrastructure and Consumer Products working with both domestic and foreign clients. He has also worked on transactions in several Sub-Saharan jurisdictions.

Within the South African context, he has advised on numerous black economic transactions across various sectors.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi “has a thorough understanding of M&A processes and is very professional.”
    Legal 500 Corporate and M&A, South Africa, 2019
  • Quote
    They have outstanding industry knowledge and experience, and a practical understanding of the law. They always come back quickly and are available when needed! They make my business their business which brings comfort.
    Legal 500 | Corporate & Commercial, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The individuals at CMS have been around the block and know what to ask and look for. They make themselves available and respond to queries urgently. They know my business intimately.
    Legal 500 | Corporate & Commercial, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The team is instrumental in commercial negotiations. It is a very value-adding team to work with.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    CMS RM Partners is by far one of our preferred legal advisers. The lawyers are highly responsive and very strong on the commercial side.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    The team is very commercially aware, able to understand our business and our challenges and advises us accordingly on a number of transactions.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    They kept us well informed and were always on time with our deadlines.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    The lawyers have a very good grasp of technical matters.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    Kabelo offers very good service levels and is always available for consultations.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025
  • Quote
    Kabelo is a really good commercial lawyer.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi is very approachable and very knowledgeable when it comes to the commercial side. He is a knowledgeable lawyer to work with.
    Chambers & Partners, 2026
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi represents international clients in investments in the healthcare and energy sectors. He frequently assists with pan-African corporate projects as well as BEE transactions.
    Chambers & Partners, 2026

Relevant experience

  • Prescient Holdings Acquisition -  in the subsequent acquisition by SFS Fund of a controlling stake in Prescient Holdings Proprietary Limited (a subsidiary of Stellar Capital Partners Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange), a diversified global financial services group. 
  • Aveng Group - represented  the majority bondholder and shareholder of Aveng Group in respect its capital restructuring which included a R300 million rights offer.
  • Samanco Crome Acquisition –  represented Sinosteel South Africa Proprietary Limited in relation to its acquisition of the controling stage on Samanco Crome Holdings Proprietary Limited.
  • AfricInvest - in relation to its investment in International Community School, and education provider based in Ghana.
  • Taquanta Holdings Limited - on the corporate restructuring of their entire group of asset management and financial services companies. 
  • Dewfresh Diary Acquisition - represented a consortium led by Public Investment Corporation SOC Limited in respect of its acquisition of 45% stake in Dewfresh Proprietary Limited, one of South Africa's leading dairy product manufacturers as part of a black economic empowerment transaction. 
  • Kagiso Media Restructure - represented Kagiso Tiso Holdings Proprietary Limited in its acquisition of shares held by third parties in Kagiso Media Limited. 
  • Paracon Holdings Acquisition - represented Adcorp Holdings Limited on its acquisition of a majority stake in Paracon Holdings Limited via a scheme of arrangement.
  • Mondi Packaging Unbundling - represented Mondi Limited, Mondi plc and Mpact Ltd (formerly Mondi Packaging South Africa Ltd) in the unbundling (demerger) by Mondi Limited of Mpact Limited and the listing of Mpact Limited on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
  • Massmart Acquisition - represented Walmart in its acquisition of a majority stake in Massmart.

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Legal Practice Council, Gauteng Office.

Education

  • 1998 – LLB, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
  • 1995 – BA, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Kabelo has extensive experience in advising sponsors, DFIs, lenders and community investment vehicles  on infrastructure and energy projects.

He assists infrastructure and energy clients with transaction advice, due diligences, M&A, corporate governance, equity structuring, IPOs, exits and all corporate & commercial elements of these projects.  

Over the years he has advised extensively on regulatory matters, (including black economic empowerment/local participation requirements) related to public procurement or public infrastructure progress, including PPP projects and renewable projects.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi “has a thorough understanding of M&A processes and is very professional.”
    Legal 500 Corporate and M&A, South Africa, 2019
  • Quote
    They have outstanding industry knowledge and experience, and a practical understanding of the law. They always come back quickly and are available when needed! They make my business their business which brings comfort.
    Legal 500 | Corporate & Commercial, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The individuals at CMS have been around the block and know what to ask and look for. They make themselves available and respond to queries urgently. They know my business intimately.
    Legal 500 | Corporate & Commercial, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The team is instrumental in commercial negotiations. It is a very value-adding team to work with.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    CMS RM Partners is by far one of our preferred legal advisers. The lawyers are highly responsive and very strong on the commercial side.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    The team is very commercially aware, able to understand our business and our challenges and advises us accordingly on a number of transactions.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    They kept us well informed and were always on time with our deadlines.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    The lawyers have a very good grasp of technical matters.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    Kabelo offers very good service levels and is always available for consultations.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025
  • Quote
    Kabelo is a really good commercial lawyer.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi is very approachable and very knowledgeable when it comes to the commercial side. He is a knowledgeable lawyer to work with.
    Chambers & Partners, 2026
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi represents international clients in investments in the healthcare and energy sectors. He frequently assists with pan-African corporate projects as well as BEE transactions.
    Chambers & Partners, 2026

Relevant experience

  • Dorper Wind Farm - represented the local investors and community trust (constituting the black ownership for the project) in relation: (i) to the shareholding arrangements and the financing of their equity funding in Dorper Wind Farm, a 97 MW wind project which was awarded in the first round of the South African REIPP procurement programme, 2013 and the subsequent of one of the major investor in the local investor consortium in relation to its exit from Dorper Wind Farm.
  • Powertech Transformers - represented Power Matla Proprietary Limited in establishing a joint venture with SGB-SMIT GmbH, a German based international power transformer manufacturer and in acquiring full control of Powertech Transformers Proprietary Limited from Altron, JSE-listed.
  • KenGen - Representation of in relation to its investment in KenGen, a Kenyan listed power company.
  • ACTOM Wilec Sale - represented Makarenge Electrical Industries Proprietary Limited in relation to the acquisition of the ACTOM Wilec business unit from electromechanical equipment manufacturer ACTOM Proprietary Limited.
  • Loariesfontein Orange Solar PV Plant - represented Absa Bank and DBSA in conducting a due diligence for the funding of Solar Capital Loariesfontein Orange Round 4 Solar PV Plant, a 75 MW photovoltaic power project in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa to be developed under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme.
  • Iberdrola Renewable SA - represented Iberdrola Renewable SA Proprietary Limited, a subsidiary of Spanish based power/renewable company, Irberdrola Renovables Energia S.A.U, in relation to their various South African projects, including the structuring of its bid entity, shareholding arrangements with its local investors.
  • Toll Roads Exit - represented The South African Infrastructure Fund in its exit from its investment in toll road companies, N3 Toll Concession RF (Pty) Ltd, Trans African Concessions (Pty) Ltd and Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd, with interests in all major South African tolled highways.

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Legal Practice Council, Gauteng Office.

Education

  • 1998 – LLB, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
  • 1995 – BA, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Kabelo is a private equity lawyer who has, over the years, acted for numerous  private equity clients.

He assists private equity clients mainly on corporate aspects and M&A transactions. Although not his key focus, he has funds formation experience. Over the years he has worked in a range of sectors along with his private equity clients, some of which include, financial services, real estate, infrastructure and consumer products. 

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi “has a thorough understanding of M&A processes and is very professional.”
    Legal 500 Corporate and M&A, South Africa, 2019
  • Quote
    They have outstanding industry knowledge and experience, and a practical understanding of the law. They always come back quickly and are available when needed! They make my business their business which brings comfort.
    Legal 500 | Corporate & Commercial, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The individuals at CMS have been around the block and know what to ask and look for. They make themselves available and respond to queries urgently. They know my business intimately.
    Legal 500 | Corporate & Commercial, South Africa, 2023
  • Quote
    The team is instrumental in commercial negotiations. It is a very value-adding team to work with.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    CMS RM Partners is by far one of our preferred legal advisers. The lawyers are highly responsive and very strong on the commercial side.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    The team is very commercially aware, able to understand our business and our challenges and advises us accordingly on a number of transactions.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    They kept us well informed and were always on time with our deadlines.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    The lawyers have a very good grasp of technical matters.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2024
  • Quote
    Kabelo offers very good service levels and is always available for consultations.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025
  • Quote
    Kabelo is a really good commercial lawyer.
    Chambers & Partners, South Africa, 2025
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi is very approachable and very knowledgeable when it comes to the commercial side. He is a knowledgeable lawyer to work with.
    Chambers & Partners, 2026
  • Quote
    Kabelo Dlothi represents international clients in investments in the healthcare and energy sectors. He frequently assists with pan-African corporate projects as well as BEE transactions.
    Chambers & Partners, 2026

Relevant experience

  • Sithega Financial Services Fund - represented Sithega Holding Proprietary Limited, in the establishment of its private equity fund, Sithega Financial Services Fund (SFS Fund).
  • Endeavor Group - represented Endeavor Group, in relation to the establishment of a social impact private equity fund and various investment vehicles specifically tailored to meet South African black economic empowerment legislation.
  • Kaizen Capital Management - represented Kaizen Capital Management Pte LTD, a Singapore based PE Fund, in relation to the establishment of an education fund and various investment vehicles specifically tailored to meet South African regulatory requirements.
  • Blue Frontier Group - represented a London-based PE fund, Blue Frontier Group, in its acquisition and consolidation of certain independent retail businesses in South Africa and the current representation of the establishment of a buying group.
  • Toll Roads Exit - represented  The South African Infrastructure Fund in its exit from its investment in toll road companies, N3 Toll Concession RF (Pty) Ltd, Trans African Concessions (Pty) Ltd and Bakwena Platinum Corridor Concessionaire (Pty) Ltd, with interests in all major South African tolled highways.

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of the Legal Practice Council, Gauteng Office.

Education

  • 1998 – LLB, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
  • 1995 – BA, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Back to top Back to top