Finance & Equity

On 1 April, a new regulatory model called Twin Peaks was implemented in South Africa. This will have a dramatic impact on the country’s future financial regulatory landscape. Many companies may not be aware that this model will have authority over every South African firm or business that offers a financial product or service. The good news for consumers is that this will potentially create one of the most progressive and extensive consumer protection regimes in the world.

There are about 230,000 registered non-profit organisations (NPOs) in South Africa, and getting involved as a board member could make a considerable difference to their sustainability. Join up and make a difference – but avoid some common pitfalls.

The captain of Ship SA, President Cyril Ramaphosa, can surely see the iceberg that we are heading for and one can almost hear the call go out for us to 'brace for impact'. The iceberg is an economy that is in crisis – an unemployment rate of 42% (using the expanded definition), GDP growth projections down by 7.8%, tax revenue projections at R304 billion less than originally budgeted for, a budget deficit of R709 billion for 2020/21, a current debt to GPD level of 81.8% and debt service costs (interest) currently amounting to 21c in every tax Rand collected.

The two programmes, the Employment Tax Incentive (ETI) created by and falling under SARS, and the Youth Empowerment Service (YES) by the Department of Trade and Industry, are designed to work together and to compliment one-another.

Business partnerships end for a number of reasons. Some are friendly and in the best interest of both parties - while others reach a bitter, nasty end. Even the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdown has forced directors to evaluate their interests and involvement.

The Financial Sector Regulation Bill was passed by Parliament and sent to the President for assent on 22 June 2017.  The Bill provides the...

The Department of Trade and Industry recently published, for public comment, a notice containing draft thresholds for major BBBEE transactions.

Managing the debtor book is critical to ensuring stable cash flows for any municipality, and has great impact on its ability in delivering services to its constituents.

The new lease accounting standard, IFRS 16, will bring all leasing assets on-balance sheet, which may significantly affect companies’ key performance indicators, loan covenants and regulatory capital requirements.

Poor governance practices, poor oversight and a lack of accountability lie at the heart of state capture and the large-scale corporate fraud that has dominated newspaper headlines in South Africa over the last three years. It is precisely due to the weaknesses in the governance structures and systems that dishonest and unethical leaders have been able to plunder state resources and commit fraud.