About Us

In January 1952, David Meyerowitz, Aubrey Silke and Erwin Spiro, sensing the need for a regularly journal dedicated to tax law and practice, published the first issue of The Taxpayer. This was the first publication of its kind in South Africa, and it achieved considerable success from the outset. Since then not a month has gone by without its fiscal counterpart, The Taxpayer.

When Meyerowitz – the last of the founding editors – handed over editorial control to Trevor Emslie at the end of 2008, Dennis Davis and Trevor Emslie had been co-editors of The Taxpayer for more than 20 years. They have since been joined by Peter Dachs, Clare Emslie and Ernest Mazansky, who strive to uphold the standards set by their esteemed predecessors.

The Taxpayer, which remains the backbone of our enterprise, is now also available electronically. In addition to other publications highlighted elsewhere on this website, Peter Dachs and Trevor Emslie regularly produce podcasts on topical aspects of South African tax law. These are intended to be lighthearted yet informative, and they are characterised by an infectious enthusiasm for the subject. 

Our editorial team continues to aspire to the rigorous and demanding standards established by Meyerowitz, Silke and Spiro, whose enthusiasm for the subject of South African tax law abides.