Pietermaritzburg-born attorney Zethu Ntanzi is emerging as one of the key voices in South Africa’s business rescue and restructuring field, bringing a strategic and people-centred approach to companies in financial distress. Ntanzi, a senior associate at Cox Yeats Attorneys, is part of the firm’s business rescue, restructuring, insolvency and insurance team — a field still largely dominated by men. Her rise, however, is helping reshape the profession and widen opportunities for young women entering the sector.
“Growing up, people would often tell me my personality suited law. Over time, it became something I could see myself building a career in.” Nearly 10 years after being admitted as an attorney, she is now an insolvency practitioner and registered member of the South African Restructuring and Insolvency Practitioners Association (SARIPA). Ntanzi first encountered insolvency work during her articles, where she rotated into the department and found the work “both challenging and stimulating”.
“No two matters are ever the same,” she said. She encourages young law students to explore different fields: “You won’t always know your niche immediately. Explore as much as you can — that’s how you find your path.” She acknowledges the pressure of the early years of legal practice.
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“It doesn’t get easier — but you do get stronger. You learn to navigate difficulties, deal with clients, and grow your resilience.” Mentorship, she said, played a crucial role in her development. “I’ve been privileged to work with people who’ve been in this field longer than I’ve been alive.
They’ve invested in my growth. Now, I try to do the same for others.” Ntanzi’s work goes beyond legal paperwork. She believes business rescue is a strategic process that succeeds when practitioners partner with the right specialists.
“A prudent practitioner surrounds themselves with the right team. No one can know every industry, but by drawing on experts and even people within the company, you can design a plan to turn a business around,” she said.
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