Edition November 2026

Growing up in Santombe, a small village in the rolling hills of Harding on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, Mnqobi Sikhosana saw education as both a personal ambition and a means of serving others. 

Today, as an analyst at the Competition Commission’s Mergers and Acquisitions division, he applies that belief to questions affecting markets, workers and economic inclusion.

In April, his career received a stamp of approval when he scooped the Best Soft Laws and Studies in the Africa and Middle East subcategory of the 2026 Antitrust Writing Awards. 

The paper won plaudits for challenging policymakers to view restrictions on workers’ mobility not only as employment law issues but also as matters of competition and economic justice.

It was also selected for presentation at the SA BRICS Conference, the ACER African Conference in Namibia and the CRESSE International Conference in Greece.

European Commission guidance and United States Federal Trade Commission developments led him deeper into the subject. He identified a gap in South African and BRICS jurisprudence, then collaborated with Acting Divisional Manager for Market Inquiries Itumeleng Lesofe.

The research examined approaches in the United States, European Union and United Kingdom, as well as Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt and Brazil. It argues that clauses restricting workers from joining competitors can affect far more than an individual employment relationship.

Enforcing competition laws in labour markets

“Competition authorities worldwide are increasingly recognising that non-competes directly impact market dynamism, talent mobility and economic equity,” Sikhosana explained. “The fundamental takeaway for South Africa is clear; competition law enforcement must actively extend beyond product markets and into labour markets.”

The paper calls for South African enforcement guidance balancing legitimate business interests with worker mobility. Sikhosana believes this could protect employees, give employers certainty and support entrepreneurship and small businesses.

Sikhosana’s wish is for the work to stimulate policy discussion rather than remain a static academic exercise. 

“As our economy evolves, bridging the gap between labour law and competition enforcement becomes essential.”

Sikhosana, the youngest of five children, credits his late father, a school teacher, with making learning central to family life. Growing up, his family home often hosted graduation celebrations, giving the future lawyer a gleaming glimpse of possibilities education presented.

“As a young boy watching those milestones unfold, I constantly envisioned myself wearing a graduation gown one day,” he recalled.

His father also insisted that the family watch news every day. Sikhosana encountered prominent jurists, including the late former Chief Justice Pius Langa and former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who also hails from the South Coast. His mother’s delight for radio dramas instilled in him the power of storytelling and human connection.

Fighting injustice

The realities surrounding him supplied a sharper motivation. “Witnessing everyday injustices around me sparked a deep-seated determination to act. I realised that I did not just want to earn a law degree, I wanted to become an advocate who could actively empower the people of my community, apprise them of their rights and ensure their voices were heard," he said.

The television drama, Sokhulu & Partners, portraying three accomplished black legal practitioners, helped him imagine that future.

“Beyond the courtroom drama, that show provided something far more powerful: representation. It allowed me to see what was possible and envision a future for myself in the legal profession,” he added.

Sikhosana completed his LLB at the University of Fort Hare, where he chaired Students for Law and Social Justice and the Constitutional Literacy and Services initiative. Through the Know Your Constitution campaign for elderly people in King William’s Town, he began turning legal knowledge into public service.

Career journey

A university career fair introduced him to representatives from his current employer and planted the idea that the institution could offer the career he sought. After graduating, he interned at SECTION27, advocating for healthcare access and taking statements from families affected by the Life Esidimeni tragedy.

A project on access to life-saving medicines introduced him to the connection between competition law and social justice. He later served his articles at a major law firm before joining a local bank in a compliance role.

At the bank, he learnt how competition law informs executive and board-level risk management. His experience at the Competition Commission include abuse of dominance investigations, stakeholder engagement on the Competition Act of 1998 amendments and regulatory guidelines and merger analysis.

“My role sits right at the intersection of competition law, company law and economics,” Sikhosana explained. His work entails assessing complex merger transactions, analysing market dynamics, drafting recommendations for decision-makers and designing conditions intended to protect competition and the public interest.

“It is an incredibly dynamic and intellectually stimulating space, but above all, it is deeply fulfilling because the work we do directly shapes the health, fairness and growth of the South African economy.”

Sikhosana’s ambitions include contributing to leading South African and international competition law journals and collaborating with experienced practitioners worldwide. 

To young South Africans considering law or economic regulation, his advice combines excellence with community, “pursue strong academic results, find mentors, build networks and remain resilient".