It’s sad to see that Shoprite has joined the ranks of JSE-listed companies that are prohibiting their shareholders from pitching up in person to attend their AGM. This year, Africa’s largest grocery retailer will be holding virtual-only meetings.  Sad, because it marks the demise of the important role AGMs should play in corporate life. As legal academics Blackman, Jooste and Everingham wrote in Commentary on the Companies Act back in the late 1980s, that role has unlimited potential: “[It] provides a significant safeguard to members as it is the one opportunity when they can be sure of meeting the directors … Continue reading Pitch up, speak up – and rate the AGM