Dynamic, highly professional, committed – wessels + van zyl inc is a law firm setting high standards at the cutting edge of the legal services industry.
To every client, big or small, we offer service of outstanding excellence, putting your needs at the centre of our endeavours.
Dignity
Collaboration
Quality

Johan van Zyl
Director
A practicing attorney, conveyancer and director of various boards, Johan distinguishes himself as a property and commercial legal specialist.Capable of handling all legal aspects of property development, from inception to conclusion, Johan offers pivotal assistance to property developers and is often integral to successfully negotiating various large commercial transactions.
Johan’s position as legal representative of the Public Investments Corporation, one of the largest investment managers on the African continent managing in excess of R1,4-trillion, is a testament to the extent of his experience, expertise and knowledge in the property and commercial fields.
The broad expanse of Johan’s network promises any company wishing to excel in the residential and commercial property market the opportunity to unlock opportunity.
Johan started the practice in 1998 under the now defunct JL van Zyl Attorneys and Associates and in March 2008 sold his practice to wessels + van zyl inc. Johan is the managing director of wessels + van zyl inc.
He is also an admitted solicitor in the UK and Wales (non-practicing) and has settled various international commercial agreements in the IT, mobile, mining, clothing and franchise industries.
Expertise and experience
- Commercial contracts
- Company Law
- Conveyancing
- Tax law
- Estate planning
- Trust law
Qualifications
- B-Proc degree – University of Pretoria – 1995
- Admitted as Attorney to the High Court in 1997, with right of appearance in the High Courts of South Africa
- Admitted as Conveyancer to the High Court in 1997, with right of appearance in the High Courts of South Africa
- Admitted as a Solicitor to the Senior Courts of England and Wales (2009)
- Post-graduate certificate in Advance Taxation – University of South Africa – 2000

Tershia Ramjee née Calien
Director
Spearheading the litigation department, Tershia Ramjee’s drive and commitment to excellence has taken her from professional assistant at the firm to director, in which role she is actively involved in the day-to-day management of the firm, the staff and the firm’s finances on an executive/director level.Tershia’s professionalism also makes her a valuable legal representative of various large corporations, including but not limited to:
> The Public Investment Corporations litigation panel – the duly authorized agents of the Government Employees Pension Fund which administers more than R1,4-trillion on behalf of its members.
Services rendered to the Public Investment Corporation range from collections on arrear commercial property rentals (and residential rentals), drafting of lease agreements, legal training, arbitrations, negotiations and litigation, legal opinion on legislation and general advice on the complexities of the property industry.
> Isolve Business Solutions, an accredited Microsoft partner.
Tershia acts as legal advisor in various litigious matters as well as on matters relating to employment and labour disputes, and Property Transactions.
> The Community Property Company
Tershia advises on matters ranging from collections on arrear commercial property rentals, drafting of lease agreements, legal training, arbitrations, negotiations and litigation, legal opinions on legislation and general advice on the complexities of the property industry.
Expertise and experience
- Commercial property law
- Debt collection
- Evictions in respect of commercial and residential properties,
- Company law
- Property law
- Criminal law
- Family law
- Foreclosures
- Deceased Estates
- Credit lending
- Liquidations
- Sequestrations
- Negotiations
- Litigation in the High and Magistrates court
Qualifications
- LLB degree – University of Pretoria – 2005
- Admitted to the High Court as an Attorney in 2006, with right of appearance in the High Courts of South Africa
- Admitted as a Notary – 2010

Carika Curlewis
Associate
The firm’s conveyancing department is spearheaded by Carika Curlewis, an admitted attorney, conveyancer and notary.Carika has experience in property-related work in both commercial and residential developments and township management (ordinance and DFA) as well as extension of township boundaries and notarial-related work such as Notarial Tie Agreements, Notarial Servitudes, Notarial Cessions and Antenuptial Contracts.
Carika is ideally situated to assist you with your property needs from the very inception of your project.
The tranquility of nature is mostly appreciated by Carika. She is also quite an athlete who enjoys a good run and is a sportswoman at heart.
Expertise and experience
- Conveyancing
- Property Law
- Notarial Agreements
- Notarial Tie Agreements
- Notarial Servitudes
- Notarial Cessions
- Antenuptial Contracts
Qualifications
- B Proc (University of South Africa)
- 1999 Admitted as an attorney
- 1999 Admitted as a conveyancer
- 2001 Admitted as a notary public

Rochelle Jo-van Roos
Attorney
Rochelle Roos is an associate at Wessels & van Zyl Inc. and is part of the commercial and property law division of the Pretoria branch. Rochelle successfully completed her articles at Wessels & van Zyl Inc. and was admitted as an attorney in 2015.Rochelle’s particular area of expertise is in the field of general commercial law which includes drafting commercial agreements (such as Subscription Agreements, Sale of Shares Agreements, Service Level Agreements, Shareholders Agreements and Buy and Sell Agreements), contractual disputes, formation of companies (including drafting bespoke constitution documents), forming new trusts, estate planning, drafting of wills and administrating deceased estates.
Rochelle holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Pretoria. She was on the Dean’s List of Merits for Exceptional Academic Achievement from 2010 to 2013. Before joining Wessels & van Zyl Inc. she was a research and academic assistant at the University of Pretoria, and presented lectures on Intellectual Property Law and Law of Things. Rochelle is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.
During her spare time, Rochelle enjoys cooking and taking cookery courses. Furthermore, she has a keen interest in travel and enjoys experiencing new cultures and environments. She tries to make a difference wherever she goes and therefore she devotes some of her spare time in reaching out in the community. Rochelle has launched an outreach program for disadvantaged, mental and physical disabled children, called Pneuma Underprivileged South African Children Foundation. The program focuses on community work and raising funds for the Boikanyo Children’s Shelter.
Expertise and experience
- Commercial Agreements
- Company Law
- Conveyancing
- Commercial Property Law
- General Litigation
- Estate Planning
- Trust Law
- Administration of Deceased Estates
Qualifications
- LLB degree – University of Pretoria – 2013
- Admitted to the High Court as an Attorney in 2015, with right of appearance in the High Courts of South Africa

Suré Fischer
Attorney
Suré obtained her Bachelors of Law degree at the University of Pretoria in 2016. She joined Wessels & Van Zyl Inc. in 2017 as a candidate attorney. She was admitted as an attorney in 2019
Suré is currently part of the trusts and estates department of the Pretoria branch, where she attends to amongst other things, the registration of new trusts, amendment of trustees or trust deeds, ensuring that current trust deeds are in accordance with trust legislation, estate planning, drafting of wills and testaments and administration of deceased estates.
During her time in University, Suré was on the Dean’s List of Merits for Exceptional Academic Achievement as well as a Member of the Golden Key International Honour Society for Academic Achievement. She also dedicated her free time as tutor in the University’s Department of Private Law where she presented tutorials and lectures in Law of Contracts and Law of Succession.
Expertise and experience
- Commercial Litigation
- Estate Planning
- Trust Law
- Administration of Deceased Estates
Qualifications
- LLB degree – University of Pretoria – 2016
- Admitted to the High Court as an Attorney in 2019
Professional pride