Tag: compliance

The integration of finance and technology, known as fintech, has revolutionised traditional banking and payment systems, transforming how we live, work and travel. Similarly, travel technology, or traveltech, has empowered travellers with convenient booking platforms and personalised experiences.

All taxpayers should arrange their tax affairs to obtain the best advantage and to pay the least amount of tax. This is a right every taxpayer possesses, and well entrenched in South African and international tax law. However, this planning must be done within the constraints of what the law allows.

Locally, as trust compliance becomes more complex and trusts become more costly to administer, their value is increasingly being questioned. However, a trust’s worth extends beyond its financial benefits, and as such, they are still very relevant tools to use in a well-crafted estate plan, especially for high-net-worth families. 

As organisations navigate the maze that is the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), many still struggle to understand the implications and requirements of the Act. The importance of bridging the gap between cyber and legal aspects when addressing data privacy concerns under POPIA is highlighted.

South Africa has been enlisted on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) dreaded “Grey List” for over four months – fortunately, though, the country has not been standing still. Significant new provisions are shaking up the corporate landscape and by comprehensively implementing stricter controls, the country can transition more quickly from the Grey List to the coveted “Whitelist.”

On 1 April 2023, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) released its new “beneficial ownership register” functionality on its e-services platform. This new requirement has placed companies under the spotlight as they must now declare their beneficial ownership to the CIPC. This means the days when the “warm body” which sits behind a company can no longer remain off record.

In the ever-evolving digital landscape of today, where data stands as the new currency, the demand for skilled data management professionals has become ever apparent. As a critical, ethical, legal and operational concern in modern business, data protection and management are essential for maintaining business continuity.

In the vast expanses of the African continent, a beacon of entrepreneurship and innovation shines brightly. Nestled at its southernmost tip, South Africa is not just a country, it's a dynamic marketplace brimming with potential. Yet, it's not just the sprawling savannahs or the captivating cultural heritage that make this nation remarkable.

Some of South Africa’s foremost investment thinkers have long advised that people living in the country hold as much of their wealth offshore as possible. Understandably so too. Over the past decade or so, the S&P 500 has outperformed the JSE All-Share Index by a significant margin.

In February this year, South Africa was greylisted by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) because of its failure to comply with its standards and measures to combat illicit financial flows, terrorist funding and potential threats to the integrity of the global financial system. This step is the consequence of the endemic corruption, generally referred to as “state capture” which has long prevailed in the country.