Tag: RegulatoryCompliance

For businesses considering an acquisition, falling below South Africa’s mandatory merger notification thresholds might seem to mean one less regulatory hurdle to worry about. But that is not always the case. Recent developments show that smaller deals can still attract the attention of the Competition Commission, particularly where a transaction could affect competition or involves a business whose true value may not yet be reflected in its turnover or assets.

When a financial institution moves Jira, Confluence, or Jira Service Management into the cloud, part of the operational burden shifts to the provider. Atlassian runs the platform and maintains the underlying infrastructure. Meanwhile, the customer gains the service capabilities that come with software as a service (SaaS). However, moving to the cloud does not eliminate the institution’s responsibility to manage technology risks and meet regulatory requirements.

The latest regulatory action against a major financial institution resulted in a R28 million administrative penalty. The penalty followed shortcomings under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA). It is a timely reminder that compliance cannot become a once-off exercise.

South Africa completed its Financial Action Task Force (FATF) action plan and left the grey list in October 2025. The more telling test now is whether the systems built under pressure remain effective when no deadline forces the issue. For businesses, that makes compliance less of a regulatory exercise. Instead, it forms part of the infrastructure required to grow with confidence.

The Companies Amendment Act provisions that took effect on 22 May 2026 introduce amendments to section 30 (annual financial statements), sections 30A and 30B (remuneration policies and remuneration reports), and section 166 (alternative dispute resolution) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008.

Compliance has traditionally been associated with paperwork, manual checks and the challenge of proving that the right processes were followed. However, regulatory scrutiny continues to increase. Accountable institutions also face greater expectations around customer due diligence. This raises a more practical question: how can compliance become easier to manage, evidence, and maintain?

In the first revision since 2017, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), Parks Tau, has gazetted amendments to the merger notification thresholds and filing fees. The amendments took effect on 1 May 2026. The amendments, published on 8 May 2026, confirm the previously proposed draft thresholds and filing fees, as set out below. The changes mark a significant adjustment to South Africa’s merger control regime.

The shift from Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate (JIBAR) to South African Rand Overnight Index Average (ZARONIA) marks a turning point in South Africa's financial landscape. It forms part of a global movement toward more reliable and transparent interest rate benchmarks. However, for businesses, it represents far more than a regulatory change.

Picture a rainy Wednesday morning in Sandton, sometime in the near future. A claims handler opens their laptop. Right away, things move much faster than before. For every new email, the company’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) system drafts a suggested reply. The inbox is also lighter. A public chatbot handles most client and broker queries because it has been trained on policy wordings and continues to improve. Need a meeting? An AI assistant schedules it, sets reminders, and even takes minutes.

It has been widely reported that the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill (the Tobacco Bill) aims to tighten regulations on smoking and vaping. Specifically, the bill seeks to introduce plain packaging. This refers to standardised packaging without branding, including logos and trademarks, and directly affects packaging and vaping controls.