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Financial Intelligence Centre Act 2001

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[Last checked: 14 October 2024.*]

*The last time this Act was reviewed for updates.

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE ACT 38 OF 2001

[Updated to 18 August 2023**]

**Date of last changes incorporated into this Act

____________________

English text signed by the President

Assented to 28 November 2001

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Published: G. 22886 of 3 December 2001

Commencement: 1 February 2002 –
ss 1-20, 72-78, 80-82 – Proc 6 in G. 23078 of 31 January 2002;

Schedules 1-3: 1 March 2002 – Proc 17 in G. 23169 of 28 February 2002;

ss 27, 29, 32-41, 44, 45, 50, 52, 53, 57-60, 63-67, 68(1), 69, 71, 79, Schedule 4: 3 February 2003 – Proc 5 in G. 24349 of 31 January 2003;

ss 21(1), 22-26, 42-43, 46(1), 47-49, 61-62, 68(2): 30 June 2003 – Proc 51 in G. 25151 of 27 June 2003;

s 46(2): 1 July 2004 – Proc 36 in G. 26522 of 30 June 2004;

ss 28, 51: 4 October 2010 – ProcR 55 in G. 33596 of 1 October 2010;

ss 31, 56: 1 February 2023 – Proc 111 in G. 47883 of 20 January 2023.

Amended

Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act 33 of 2004 (G. 27266 with effect from 20 May 2005 [ProcR 18, G. 27502]),

Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Act 11 of 2008 (G. 31365 with effect from 1 December 2010 [GN 1106, G. 33781]);

GN 1104, G. 33781 of 26 November 2010 with effect from 1 December 2010,

GN 1105, G. 33781 of 26 November 2010 with effect from 1 December 2010,

General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act 11 of 2013 (G. 36695 with effect from 29 July 2013 [Proc 32, G. 36714]),

Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Act 1 of 2017 (G. 40821, with effect from: 13 June 2017 [GN 563, G. 40916]; 2 October 2017 [GN 563, G. 40916]; 1 April 2019 [GN 519, G. 42360]; ss 6, 43: 18 August 2023 [GN 3803, G. 49140 of 18 August 2023]),

Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017 (G. 41549 with effect from 7 May 2018),

Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 (G. 44651 with effect from 1 December 2021 [Proc. R42, G. 45562]),

GN 2800, G. 47596 of 29 November 2022 with effect from 19 December 2022,

General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Act 22 of 2022 (G. 47815 with effect from 31 December 2022 [Proc. 109, G. 47805]),

Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Amendment Act 23 of 2022 (G. 47803 with effect from 4 January 2023 [Proc. 110, G. 47820]).

ACT

To establish a Financial Intelligence Centre in order to combat money laundering activities and the financing of terrorist and related activities; to impose certain duties on institutions and other persons who might be used for money laundering purposes and the financing of terrorist and related activities; to provide for customer due diligence measures including with respect to beneficial ownership and persons in prominent positions; to provide for a risk based approach to client identification and verification; to provide for the implementation of financial sanctions and to administer measures pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations; to clarify the application of the Act in relation to other laws; to provide for the sharing of information by the Centre and supervisory bodies; to provide for risk management and compliance programmes, governance and training relating to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing; to provide for the issuance of directives by the Centre and supervisory bodies; to provide for the registration of accountable and reporting institutions; to provide for the roles and responsibilities of supervisory bodies; to provide for written arrangements relating to the respective roles and responsibilities of the Centre and supervisory bodies; to provide the Centre and supervisory bodies with powers to conduct inspections; to regulate certain applications to Court; to provide for administrative sanctions that may be imposed by the Centre and supervisory bodies; to establish an appeal board to hear appeals against decisions of the Centre or supervisory bodies; to provide for arrangements on consultation with stakeholders; to amend the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998, and the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000; and to provide for matters connected therewith.

[Long title substituted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004, s 28 of Act 11 of 2008, s 60 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

1. Definitions

1A. Application of Act when in conflict with other laws

CHAPTER 1

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE

2. Establishment

3. Objectives

4. Functions

5. General powers

6. Appointment of Director

7. Removal from office

8. Acting Director

9. Proof of appointment

10. Responsibilities of Director

11. Staff

12. Security screening of staff of Centre other than Director

13. Security screening of Director of Centre

14. Funds and financial year of Centre

15. Audit

16. Delegation

CHAPTER 2 …

17. …

18. …

19. …

20. …

CHAPTER 3

MONEY LAUNDERING, FINANCING OF TERRORIST AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL SANCTIONS CONTROL MEASURES

Part 1

Customer due diligence

20A. Anonymous clients and clients acting under false or fictitious names

21. Identification of clients and other persons

21A. Understanding and obtaining information on business relationship

21B. Additional due diligence measures relating to legal persons, trusts and partnerships

21C. Ongoing due diligence

21D. Doubts about veracity of previously obtained information and when reporting suspicious and unusual transactions

21E. Inability to conduct customer due diligence

21F. Foreign politically exposed person

21G. Domestic politically exposed person and prominent influential person

21H. Family members and known close associates

Part 2

Duty to keep record

22. Obligation to keep customer due diligence records

22A. Obligation to keep transaction records

23. Period for which records must be kept

24. Records may be kept in electronic form and by third parties

25. Admissibility of records

26. …

Part 2A

Financial sanctions

26A. Notification of persons and entities identified by Security Council of the United Nations

26B. Prohibitions relating to persons and entities identified by Security Council of the United Nations

26C. Permitted financial services and dealing with property

Part 3

Reporting duties and access to information

27. Accountable institutions, reporting institutions and persons subject to reporting obligations to advise Centre of clients

27A. Powers of access by authorised representative to records of accountable institutions

28. Cash transactions above prescribed limit

28A. Property associated with terrorist and related activities and financial sanctions pursuant to Resolutions of United Nations Security Council

29. Suspicious and unusual transactions

30. Conveyance of cash to or from Republic

31. Electronic transfers of money to or from Republic

32. Reporting procedures and furnishing of additional information

33. Continuation of transactions

34. Intervention by Centre

35. Monitoring orders

36. Information held by supervisory bodies and South African Revenue Service

37. Reporting duty and obligations to provide information not affected by confidentiality rules

38. Protection of persons making reports

39. Admissibility as evidence of reports made to Centre

40. Access to information held by Centre

41. Protection of confidential information

41A. Protection of personal information

Part 4

Measures to promote compliance by accountable institutions

42. Risk Management and Compliance Programme

42A. Governance of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance

42B. Consultation process for issuing guidance

43. Training relating to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance

43A. Directives

43B. Registration by accountable institution and reporting institution

Part 5

Referral and supervision

44. Referral of suspected offences to investigating authorities and other public bodies

45. Responsibility for supervision of accountable institutions

CHAPTER 4

COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

45A. Appointment of inspectors

45B. Inspections

45C. Administrative sanctions

45D. Appeal

45E. Establishment of appeal board

45F. Application to court

46. Failure to identify persons

46A. Failure to comply with duty in regard to customer due diligence

47. Failure to keep records

48. Destroying or tampering with records

49. Failure to give assistance

49A. Contravention of prohibitions relating to persons and entities identified by Security Council of United Nations

50. Failure to advise Centre of client

51. Failure to report cash transactions

51A. Failure to report property associated with terrorist and related activities and financial sanctions pursuant to Resolutions of United Nations Security Council

52. Failure to report suspicious or unusual transactions

53. Unauthorised disclosure

54. Failure to report conveyance of cash or bearer negotiable instrument into or out of Republic

55. Failure to send report to Centre

56. Failure to report electronic transfers

57. Failure to comply with request

58. Failure to comply with direction of Centre

59. Failure to comply with monitoring order

60. Misuse of information

61. Failure to comply with duty in respect of Risk Management and Compliance Programme

61A. Failure to register with Centre

61B. Failure to comply with duty in regard to governance

62. Failure to provide training

62A. Offences relating to inspection

62B. Hindering or obstructing appeal board

62C. Failure to attend when summoned

62D. Failure to answer fully or truthfully

62E. Failure to comply with directives of Centre or supervisory body

63. Obstructing of official in performance of functions

64. Conducting transactions to avoid reporting duties

65. …

66. …

67. …

68. Penalties

69. Defences

70. Search, seizure and forfeiture

71. Jurisdiction of courts

CHAPTER 5

MISCELEANEOUS

72. Act not to limit powers of investigating authorities or supervisory bodies

73. Amendment of list of accountable institutions

74. Exemptions for accountable institutions

75. Amendment of list of supervisory bodies

76. Amendment of list of reporting institutions

77. Regulations

77A. Arrangements for consultations with stakeholders

78. Indemnity

79. Amendment of laws

79A. Amendment of list of domestic politically exposed persons

79B. Amendment of list of foreign politically exposed persons

79C. Amendment of list of prominent influential persons

80. Status of footnotes

81. Transitional arrangements

82. Short title and commencement

Schedule 1: List of accountable institutions

Schedule 2: List of supervisory bodies

Schedule 3: List of reporting institutions

Schedule 3A: Domestic politically exposed person

Schedule 3B: Foreign politically exposed person

Schedule 3C: Prominent influential person

Schedule 4: Amendment of sections of prevention of Organised Crime Act 121 of 1998; Amendment of Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000

1. Definitions

(1) In this Act, unless the context indicates otherwise—

“accountable institution” means a person referred to in Schedule 1;

“administrative sanction” means an administrative sanction contemplated in section 45C;

[“administrative sanction” inserted by s 1(a) of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 1(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“appeal board” means the appeal board established by section 45E;

[“appeal board” inserted by s 1(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

“authorised officer” means any official of—

(a) an investigating authority authorised by the head of that investigating authority to act under this Act;

(b) the National Prosecuting Authority authorised by the National Director of Public Prosecutions to act under this Act;

(d) the South African Revenue Service authorised by the Commissioner for that Service to act under this Act;

(e) the Independent Police Investigative Directorate authorised by the Executive Director of that Directorate to act under this Act;

(f) the Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force authorised by the Inspector-General of the National Defence Force to act under this Act;

(g) a Special Investigating Unit authorised by the head of the Special Investigating Unit to act under this Act;

(h) the office of the Public Protector authorised by the Public Protector to act under this Act;

(i) an investigative division in a national department authorised by the head of that national department to act under this Act; or

[[“authorised officer” (i) substituted by s 18(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(j) an investigative division of the Auditor-General authorised by the Auditor-General to act under this Act.

[[“authorised officer” (j) inserted by s 18(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[“authorised officer” substituted by s 1(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“bearer negotiable instrument” means any instrument that may on demand by the bearer thereof be converted to the currency of the Republic or that of another country, and includes, amongst others, cheques, promissory notes or money orders;

[“bearer negotiable instrument” inserted by s 1(b) of Act 11 of 2008; amended by s 1(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

‘‘beneficial owner”—

(a) means a natural person who directly or indirectly—

(i) ultimately owns or exercises effective control of—

(aa) a client of an accountable institution; or

(bb) a legal person, partnership or trust that owns or exercises effective control of, as the case may be, a client of an accountable institution; or

(ii) exercises control of a client of an accountable institution on whose behalf a transaction is being conducted; and

(b) includes—

(i) in respect of legal persons, each natural person contemplated in section 21B(2)(a);

(ii) in respect of a partnership, each natural person contemplated in section 21B(3)(b); and

(iii) in respect of a trust, each natural person contemplated in section 21B(4)(c), (d) and (e);

[“beneficial owner” inserted by s 1(d) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017; substituted by s 18(d) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“business relationship” means an arrangement between a client and an accountable institution for the purpose of concluding transactions on a regular basis;

“cash” means—

(a) coin and paper money of the Republic or of another country that is designated as legal tender and that circulates as, and is customarily used and accepted as, a medium of exchange in the country of issue;

(b) travellers’ cheques;

“Centre” means the Financial Intelligence Centre established by section 2;

“client”, in relation to an accountable institution, means a person who has entered into a business relationship or a single transaction with an accountable institution;

[“client” inserted by s 1(e) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“Council” …

[“Council” substituted by s 1(c) of Act 11 of 2008; repealed by s 1(f) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“Director” means the Director of the Centre appointed in terms of section 6;

“domestic politically exposed person” means a person referred to in Schedule 3A;

[“domestic politically exposed person” inserted by s 1(g) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017; substituted by s 18(e) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“entity” has a corresponding meaning with the definition in section 1 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, 2004;

[“entity” inserted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004; amended by s 1(h) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“foreign politically exposed person” means a person referred to in Schedule 3B;

[“foreign politically exposed person” inserted by s 1(i) of Act 1 of 2017,with effect from 2 October 2017; substituted by s 18(f) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“Independent Police Investigative Directorate” means the Independent Police Investigative Directorate established by section 3 of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Act, 2011 (Act 1 of 2011);

[“Independent Police Investigative Directorate” inserted by s 1(i) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“inspector” means a person appointed in terms of section 45A;

[“inspector” inserted by s 1(d) of Act 11 of 2008.]

“Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force” means the Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force referred to in section 33 of the Defence Act, 2002 (Act 42 of 2002);

[“Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force” inserted by s 1(j) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“intelligence service” means the State Security Agency referred to in section 3 of the Intelligence Services Act, 2002 (Act 65 of 2002);

[“intelligence service” substituted by s 53 of Act 11 of 2013.]

“investigating authority” means an authority that in terms of national legislation may investigate unlawful activities;

“investigative division in a national department” means an investigative component in a national department listed in Schedule 1 to the Public Service Act, 1994 (Act 103 of 1994), having a function by law to investigate unlawful activity within that national department or in another organ of state;

[“investigative division in a national department” inserted by s 1(k) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017; substituted by s 18(g) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“investigative division of the Auditor-General” means the investigative component of the Auditor-General having the function by law to investigate material irregularities in accordance with the Public Audit Act, 2004 (Act 25 of 2004); and

[Definition of “investigative division of the Auditor-General” inserted by s 18(h) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“legal person” means any person, other than a natural person, that establishes a business relationship or enters into a single transaction, with an accountable institution, and includes a person incorporated as a company, close corporation, foreign company or any other form of corporate arrangement or association, but excludes a trust, partnership or sole proprietor;

[“legal person” inserted by s 1(k) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“Minister” means the Minister of Finance;

“money laundering” or “money laundering activity” means an activity which has or is likely to have the effect of concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition or movement of the proceeds of unlawful activities or any interest which anyone has in such proceeds, and includes any activity which constitutes an offence in terms of section 64 of this Act or section 4, 5 or 6 of the Prevention Act;*

_________________

* Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the Prevention Act read as follows—

“4. Money laundering

Any person who knows or ought reasonably to have known that property is or forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activities and—

(a) enters into any agreement or engages in any arrangement or transaction with anyone in connection with that property, whether such agreement, arrangement or transaction is legally enforceable or not; or

(b) performs any other act in connection with such property, whether it is performed independently or in concert with any other person,

which has or is likely to have the effect—

(i) of concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition or movement of the said property or its ownership or any interest which anyone may have in respect thereof; or

(ii) of enabling or assisting any person who has committed or commits an offence, whether in the Republic or elsewhere—

(aa) to avoid prosecution; or

(bb) to remove or diminish any property acquired directly, or indirectly, as a result of the commission of an offence,

shall be guilty of an offence.

5. Assisting another to benefit from proceeds of unlawful activities

Any person who knows or ought reasonably to have known that another person has obtained the proceeds of unlawful activities, and who enters into any agreement with anyone or engages in any arrangement or transaction whereby—

(a) the retention or the control by or on behalf of the said other person of the proceeds of unlawful activities is facilitated; or

(b) the said proceeds of unlawful activities are used to make funds available to the said other person or to acquire property on his or her behalf or to benefit him or her in any other way,

shall be guilty of an offence.

6. Acquisition, possession or use of proceeds of unlawful activities

Any person who—

(a) acquires;

(b) uses; or

property and who knows or ought reasonably to have known that it is or forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activities of another person, shall be guilty of an offence.”.

_________________

“National Commissioner” means the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service referred to in section 207 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996);

“National Director of Public Prosecutions” means the National Director of Public Prosecutions referred to in section 179 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996);

“National Prosecuting Authority” means the National Prosecuting Authority referred to in section 179 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and established in terms of section 2 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act, 1998 (Act 32 of 1998);

[“National Prosecuting Authority” inserted by s 1(l) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“non-compliance” means any act or omission that constitutes a failure to comply with a provision of this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act and which does not constitute an offence in terms of this Act, and ‘fails to comply’, ‘failure to comply’, ‘non-compliant’ and ‘not complying’ have a corresponding meaning;

[“non-compliance” inserted by s 1(e) of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 1(m) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities” means an offence under section 4 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, 2004 (Act 33 of 2004);

[“offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities” inserted by s 1(n) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities” …

[“offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities” inserted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004; repealed by s 1(s) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“prescribed” means prescribed by the Minister by regulation in terms of section 77;

“Prevention Act” means the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, 1998 (Act 121 of 1998);

“proceeds of unlawful activities” has the meaning attributed to that term in section 1 of the Prevention Act;*

_________________

* In terms of section 1 of the Prevention Act, this term means “any property or any service, advantage, benefit or reward which was derived, received or retained, directly or indirectly, in the Republic or elsewhere, at any time before or after the commencement of this Act, in connection with or as a result of any unlawful activity carried on by any person, and includes any property representing property so derived”.

_________________

“proliferation financing” or “proliferation financing activity” means an activity which has or is likely to have the effect of providing property, a financial or other service or economic support to a non-State actor, that may be used to finance the manufacture, acquisition, possessing, development, transport, transfer or use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, and includes any activity which constitutes an offence in terms of section 49A;

[“proliferation financing” or “proliferation financing activity” inserted by s 18(i) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“prominent influential person” means a person referred to in Schedule 3C;

[“prominent influential person” inserted by s 18(i) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

“property” has the meaning attributed to that term in section 1 of the Prevention Act;*

_________________

* In terms of section 1 of the Prevention Act, this term means “money or any other movable, immovable, corporeal or incorporeal thing, and includes any rights, privileges, claims and securities and any interest therein and all proceeds thereof”.

_________________

“Public Protector” means the Public Protector referred to in Chapter 9 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996;

[“Public Protector” inserted by s 1(o) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“reporting institution” means a person referred to in Schedule 3;

“Risk Management and Compliance Programme” means the programme contemplated in section 42(1);

[“Risk Management and Compliance Programme” inserted by s 1(p) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“single transaction” means a transaction—

(a) other than a transaction concluded in the course of a business relationship; and

(b) where the value of the transaction is not less than the amount prescribed, except in the case of section 20A;

[“single transaction” substituted by s 1(q) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“South African Revenue Service” means the South African Revenue Service established by section 2 of the South African Revenue Service Act, 1997 (Act 34 of 1997);

“Special Investigating Unit” means the Special Investigating Unit established under section 2 of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 (Act 74 of 1996);

[“Special Investigating Unit” inserted by s 1(r) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

“supervisory body” means a functionary or institution referred to in Schedule 2;

“terrorist and related activities” has the meaning assigned to it in section 1 of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act. 2004 (Act 33 of 2004);

[“terrorist and related activities” inserted by s 1(f) of Act 11 of 2008.]

“this Act” includes any regulation made or exemption given under this Act;

[“this Act” substituted by s 1(g) of Act 11 of 2008.]

“transaction” …

[“transaction” repealed by s 1(s) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“trust” means a trust defined in section 1 of the Trust Property Control Act, 1988 (Act 57 of 1988), other than a trust established—

(a) by virtue of a testamentary disposition;

(b) by virtue of a court order;

(d) by the trustees of a retirement fund in respect of benefits payable to the beneficiaries of that retirement fund,

and includes a similar arrangement established outside the Republic;

[“trust” inserted by s 1(t) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

“unlawful activity” has the meaning attributed to that term in section 1 of the Prevention Act.*

_________________

* In terms of section 1 of the Prevention Act, this term means “conduct which constitutes a crime or which contravenes any law, whether such conduct occurred before or after the commencement of this Act and whether such conduct occurred in the Republic or elsewhere”.

_________________

(2) For the purposes of this Act a person has knowledge of a fact if—

(a) the person has actual knowledge of that fact; or

(b) the court is satisfied that—

(i) the person believes that there is a reasonable possibility of the existence of that fact; and

(ii) the person fails to obtain information to confirm or refute the existence of that fact.

(3) For the purposes of this Act a person ought reasonably to have known or suspected a fact if the conclusions that he or she ought to have reached, are those which would have been reached by a reasonably diligent and vigilant person having both—

(a) the general knowledge, skill, training and experience that may reasonably be expected of a person in his or her position; and

(b) the general knowledge, skill, training and experience that he or she in fact has.

[S 1 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

1A. Application of Act when in conflict with other laws

If any conflict, relating to the matters dealt with in this Act, arises between this Act and the provisions of any other law existing at the commencement of this Act, save the Constitution, the provisions of this Act prevail.

[S 1A inserted by s 2 of Act 11 of 2008.]

CHAPTER 1

FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE CENTRE

2. Establishment

(1) A Financial Intelligence Centre is hereby established as an institution outside the public service but within the public administration as envisaged in section 195 of the Constitution.

(2) The Centre is a juristic person.

[S 2 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

3. Objectives

(1) The principal objective of the Centre is to assist in the—

(a) identification of the proceeds of unlawful activities;

(aA) identification of persons involved in money laundering activities, offences relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities and proliferation financing activities;

(b) combating of money laundering activities, the financing of terrorist and related activities and proliferation financing activities; and

(c) implementation of financial sanctions pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations, under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

[S 3(1) substituted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004, s 2(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019, s 19(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) The other objectives of the Centre are—

(a) to make information it collects and produces available to—

(i) an investigating authority;

(ii) the National Prosecuting Authority;

(iii) an intelligence service;

(iv) the South African Revenue Service;

(v) the Independent Police Investigative Directorate;

(iv) the Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force;

[Numbering as in Original Government Gazette.]

(vii) a Special Investigating Unit;

(viii) the office of the Public Protector;

(ix) an investigative division a national department;

[S 3(2)(a)(ix) substituted by s 19(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(x) a supervisory body; or

[S 3(2)(a)(x) substituted by s 19(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(xi) the investigative division of the Auditor-General,

[S 3(2)(a)(xi) inserted by s 19(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

to facilitate the administration and enforcement of the laws of the Republic;

[S 3(2)(a) substituted by s 3(a) of Act 11 of 2008, s 2(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017 and amended by s 19(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(aA) to administer measures requiring persons to freeze property and transactions pursuant to financial sanctions that may arise from resolutions adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A;

[S 3(2)(aA) inserted by s 2(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019; substituted by s 19(d) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(aaA) to produce forensic evidence, based on the application of specialised scientific methods and techniques, pertaining to the flow of financial transactions and the links between persons, and between persons and property, based on the flow of financial transactions;

[S 3(2)(aaA) inserted by s 19(d) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(b) to exchange information with bodies with similar objectives in other countries regarding money laundering activities, the financing of terrorist and related activities, and other similar activities;

[S 3(2)(b) substituted by s 3(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(c) to supervise and enforce compliance with this Act or any directive made in terms of this Act and to facilitate effective supervision and enforcement by supervisory bodies.

[S 3(2)(c) inserted by s 3(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

[S 3 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

4. Functions

To achieve its objectives the Centre must—

(a) process, analyse and interpret information disclosed to it, and obtained by it, in terms of this Act;

(aA) where appropriate, initiate analysis based on information in its possession or information received other than by means of reports made to it under Part 3 of Chapter 3;

[S 4(aA) inserted by s 3(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(b) inform, advise and co-operate with—

(i) an investigating authority;

(ii) the National Prosecuting Authority;

(iii) an intelligence service;

(iv) the South African Revenue Service;

(v) the Independent Police Investigative Directorate;

(vi) the Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force;

(vii) a Special Investigating Unit;

(viii) the Public Protector;

(ix) an investigative division in a national department;

[S 4(b)(ix) substituted by s 20(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(x) a supervisory body; or

[S 4(b)(x) substituted by s 20(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(xi) the investigative division of the Auditor-General;

[S 4(b)(xi) inserted by s 20(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[S 4(b) substituted by s 3(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(c) monitor and give guidance to accountable institutions, supervisory bodies and other persons regarding the performance and compliance by them of their duties and obligations in terms of this Act or any directive made in terms of this Act;

[S 4(c) substituted by s 4(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(cA) provide information and guidance to persons that will assist in meeting requirements to freeze property and transactions pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A;

[S 4(cA) inserted by s 3(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019; substituted by s 20(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(d) retain the information referred to in paragraph (a) in the manner and for the period required by this Act.

(e) annually review the implementation of this Act and submit a report that includes information that is necessary to demonstrate the implementation of the Act, to the Minister;

[S 4(e) inserted by s 4(b) of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 20(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(f) implement a registration system in respect of all accountable institutions and reporting institutions; and

[S 4(f) inserted by s 4(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(g) supervise and enforce compliance with this Act or any directive made in terms of this Act by accountable institutions, reporting institutions and other persons to whom the provisions of this Act apply that—

(i) are not supervised by a supervisory body in terms of this Act;;

(ii) are supervised by a supervisory body in terms of this Act, if that supervisory body fails to enforce compliance despite any recommendation of the Centre made in terms of section 44(b).

[S 4(g) inserted by s 4(b) of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 20(d) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[S 4 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

5. General powers

(1) The Centre may do all that is necessary or expedient to perform its functions effectively, which includes the power to—

(a) determine its own staff establishment and the terms and conditions of employment for its staff within a policy framework determined by the Minister;

(b) appoint employees and seconded personnel to posts on its staff establishment;

(c) obtain the services of any person by agreement, including any state department, functionary or institution, to perform any specific act or function;

(d) acquire or dispose of any right in or to property, but rights in respect of immovable property may be acquired or disposed of only with the consent of the Minister;

(e) open and operate its own bank accounts, subject to the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999);

(f) insure itself against any loss, damage, risk or liability;

(g) perform legal acts or institute or defend any legal action in its own name;

(h) engage in any lawful activity, whether alone or together with any other organisation in the Republic or elsewhere, aimed at promoting its objectives;

(hA) enter into public private partnerships for the purposes of achieving any of the objectives of the Centre in section 3;

[S 5(1)(hA) inserted by s 21(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(i) do anything that is incidental to the exercise of any of its powers.

(2) The Centre may, for the purposes of this Act and to perform its functions effectively—

(a) request information from any organ of state;

(b) request access to any database held by any organ of state; or

(c) have access to information contained in a register that is kept by an organ of state in the execution of a statutory function of that organ of state.

[S 5(2) inserted by s 21(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[S 5 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

6. Appointment of Director

(1) The Minister must appoint a fit and proper person as the Director of the Centre.

(2) A person appointed as the Director holds office—

(a) for a term not exceeding five years, but which is renewable; and

(b) on terms and conditions set out in a written employment contract, which must include terms and conditions setting specific, measurable performance standards.

(3) ...

[S 6(3) repealed by s 4 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

[S 6 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

7. Removal from office

(1) The Minister may remove the Director from office only on the grounds referred to in section 13 or on the grounds of misconduct, incapacity or incompetence.

(2) The Minister may suspend the Director from office, pending—

(a) the determination of any enquiry as to whether grounds of misconduct, incapacity or incompetence exist; or

(b) the outcome of a security screening investigation referred to in section 13(3).

[S 7 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

8. Acting Director

When the Director is absent or otherwise unable to perform the functions of office, or during a vacancy in the office of Director, the Minister may designate another employee of the Centre to act as Director.

[S 8 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

9. Proof of appointment

If the Minister has given notice in the Gazette of any appointment of a person as the Director or as acting director, this notice may be presented in a Court as proof of the appointment.

[S 9 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

10. Responsibilities of Director

(1) The Director—

(a) is responsible for the performance by the Centre of its functions;

(b) takes all decisions of the Centre in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its functions, except those decisions taken in consequence of a delegation or instruction in terms of section 16; and

(2) As the chief executive officer, the Director is responsible for—

(a) the formation and development of an efficient and performance driven administration;

(b) the management of the administration; and

(3) As accounting authority of the Centre the Director must perform the functions assigned to accounting authorities in terms of the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act 1 of 1999).

(4) The Director performs the functions of office subject to any policy framework which may be prescribed by the Minister.

[S 10 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

11. Staff

(1) The staff of the Centre consists of—

(a) the Director; and

(b) persons appointed as employees of the Centre by the Director.

(2) An employee of an organ of state may be seconded to the Centre by agreement between the Centre and such organ of state.

(3) Staff members referred to in subsection (1)(b) and persons seconded to the Centre in terms of subsection (2) perform their duties subject to the control and directions of the Director.

(4) If an officer or employee in the public service is seconded to the Centre, the period of his or her service with the Centre must be calculated as part of and continuous with his or her employment in the public service, for purposes of leave, pension and any other condition of service.

(5) The provisions of any pension law applicable to an officer or employee referred to in subsection (4) or, in the event of his or her death, to his or her dependants, which are not inconsistent with this section, must, with the necessary changes, continue so to apply.

(6) No person seconded to the Centre or employed by the Centre to perform any of the functions of the Centre may strike or induce or conspire with any other member of the staff of the Centre to strike.

(7) The services of the Centre, for the purposes of the application of Chapter IV of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act 66 of 1995), are deemed to have been designated as an essential service in terms of section 71 of that Act.

(8) All other conditions of service of staff of the Centre are as determined in terms of this Act.

[S 11 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

12. Security screening of staff of Centre other than Director

(1) No person other than the Director may be appointed or seconded to perform any of the functions of the Centre unless—

(a) information with respect to that person has been gathered in a vetting investigation by the State Security Agency referred to in section 3 of the Intelligence Services Act, 2002 (Act 65 of 2002); and

[S 12(1)(a) substituted by s 53 of Act 11 of 2013.]

(b) the Director, after evaluating the gathered information, is satisfied that such person may be so appointed without the possibility that such person might be a security risk or that he or she might act in any way prejudicial to the objectives or functions of the Centre.

(2) If the Director is so satisfied, the Director must issue a certificate with respect to such person in which it is certified that such person has successfully undergone a security clearance.

(3) Any person referred to in subsection (1) may at any time determined by the Director be subjected to a further security screening investigation as contemplated in subsection (1)(a).

(4) The Director may withdraw a certificate referred to in subsection (2) if the Director obtains information from an investigation referred to in subsection (3) which, after evaluation by the Director, causes the Director to believe that the person in question could be a security risk or could possibly act in any manner prejudicial to the objectives or functions of the Centre.

(5) If the certificate referred to in subsection (2) is withdrawn, the person concerned may not perform any functions of the Centre and the Director must discharge him or her from the Centre.

[S 12 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

13. Security screening of Director of Centre

(1) No person may be appointed as the Director of the Centre unless—

[S 13(1)(a) substituted by s 53 of Act 11 of 2013.]

(b) the Minister, after evaluating the gathered information, is satisfied that such person may be so appointed without the possibility that such person might be a security risk or that he or she might act in any manner prejudicial to the objectives or functions of the Centre.

(2) If the Minister is so satisfied, he or she must issue a certificate with respect to such person in which it is certified that such person has successfully undergone a security clearance.

(3) The Director may at any time determined by the Minister be subjected to a further security screening investigation as contemplated in subsection (1)(a).

(4) The Minister may withdraw a certificate referred to in subsection (2) if the Minister obtains information from an investigation referred to in subsection (3) which, after evaluation by the Minister, causes the Minister to believe that the Director could be a security risk or could possibly act in any manner prejudicial to the objectives or functions of the Centre.

(5) If the certificate referred to in subsection (2) is withdrawn, the Director may not perform any functions of the Centre and the Minister must discharge him or her from the Centre.

[S 13 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

14. Funds and financial year of Centre

(1) The funds of the Centre consist of—

(a) money appropriated annually by Parliament for the purposes of the Centre;

(b) any government grants made to it; and

(c) any other money legally acquired by it, provided that the Centre may accept donations only with the prior written approval of the Minister.

(2) The financial year of the Centre ends on 31 March in each year.

[S 14 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

15. Audit

The Auditor-General must audit and report on the accounts and financial records of the Centre.

[S 15 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

16. Delegation

(1) The Director may—

(a) delegate, in writing, any of the powers entrusted to the Centre in terms of this Act to a member of the staff of the Centre; or

(b) instruct a member of the staff to perform any of the functions assigned to the Centre in terms of this Act.

(2) A delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1)—

(a) is subject to the limitations or conditions that the Director may impose; and

(b) does not divest the Director of the responsibility concerning the exercise of the delegated power or the performance of the assigned function.

(3) The Director may confirm, vary or revoke any decision taken by a staff member in consequence of a delegation or instruction in terms of subsection (1), as long as no such variation or revocation of a decision detracts from any rights that may have accrued as a result of the decision.

(4) A person seconded to the Centre in terms of section 11(2) is for the purposes of this section regarded as being a staff member.

[S 16 commencement: 1 February 2002.]

CHAPTER 2 …

[Chapter 2 amended by ss 5 and 6 of Act 11 of 2008, s 53 of Act 11 of 2013; repealed by s 5 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

17. – 20. ...

[Ss 17 – 20 repealed by s 5 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

CHAPTER 3

MONEY LAUNDERING, FINANCING OF TERRORIST AND RELATED ACTIVITIES AND FINANCIAL SANCTIONS CONTROL MEASURES

[Chapter 3 heading substituted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004, s 6 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 18 August 2023.]

Part 1

Customer due diligence

[Chapter 3, Part 1 heading substituted by s 7 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

20A. Anonymous clients and clients acting under false or fictitious names

An accountable institution may not establish a business relationship or conclude a single transaction with an anonymous client or a client with an apparent false or fictitious name.

[S 20A inserted by s 8 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

21. Identification of clients and other persons

(1) When an accountable institution engages with a prospective client to enter into a single transaction or to establish a business relationship, the institution must, in the course of concluding that single transaction or establishing that business relationship and in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme—

(a) establish and verify the identity of the client;

(b) if the client is acting on behalf of another person, establish and verify—

(i) the identity of that other person; and

(ii) the client’s authority to establish the business relationship or to conclude the single transaction on behalf of that other person; and

(i) the identity of that other person; and

(ii) that other person’s authority to act on behalf of the client.

[S 21(1) substituted by s 9 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 21(1) commencement: 30 June 2003.]

(2) If an accountable institution had established a business relationship with a client before this Act took effect, the accountable institution may not conclude a transaction in the course of that business relationship, unless the accountable institution has taken the prescribed steps—

(a) to establish and verify the identity of the client;

(b) if another person acted on behalf of the client in establishing the business relationship, to establish and verify—

(i) the identity of that other person; and

(ii) that other person’s authority to act on behalf of the client;

(i) the identity of that other person; and

(ii) the client’s authority to act on behalf of that other person; and

(d) to trace all accounts at that accountable institution that are involved in transactions concluded in the course of that business relationship.

21A. Understanding and obtaining information on business relationship

When an accountable institution engages with a prospective client to establish a business relationship as contemplated in section 21, the institution must, in addition to the steps required under section 21 and in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme, obtain information to reasonably enable the accountable institution to determine whether future transactions that will be performed in the course of the business relationship concerned are consistent with the institution’s knowledge of that prospective client, including information describing—

(a) the nature of the business relationship concerned;

(b) the intended purpose of the business relationship concerned; and

(c) the source of the funds which that prospective client expects to use in concluding transactions in the course of the business relationship concerned.

[S 21A inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

21B. Additional due diligence measures relating to legal persons, trusts and partnerships

(1) If a client contemplated in section 21 is a legal person or a natural person acting on behalf of a partnership, trust or similar arrangement between natural persons, an accountable institution must, in addition to the steps required under sections 21 and 21A and in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme, establish—

(a) the nature of the client’s business; and

(b) the ownership and control structure of the client.

(2) If a client contemplated in section 21 is a legal person, an accountable institution must, in addition to the steps required under sections 21 and 21A and in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme—

(a) establish the identity of the beneficial owner of the client by—

(i) determining the identity of each natural person who, independently or together with another person, has a controlling ownership interest in the legal person;

(ii) if in doubt whether a natural person contemplated in subparagraph (i) is the beneficial owner of the legal person or no natural person has a controlling ownership interest in the legal person, determining the identity of each natural person who exercises control of that legal person through other means, including through his or her ownership or control of other legal persons, partnerships or trusts; or

[S 21B(2)(a)(ii) substituted by s 22(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(iii) if a natural person is not identified as contemplated in subparagraph (ii), determining the identity of each natural person who exercises control over the management of the legal person, including in his or her capacity as executive officer, non-executive director, independent non-executive director, director or manager; and

(b) take reasonable steps to verify the identity of the beneficial owner of the client, so that the accountable institution is satisfied that it knows who the beneficial owner is.

(3) If a person, in entering into a single transaction or establishing a business relationship as contemplated in section 21, is acting on behalf of a partnership an accountable institution must, in addition to the steps required under sections 21 and 21A and in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme—

(a) establish the identifying name of the partnership, if applicable;

(b) establish the identity of—

(i) every partner, including every member of a partnership en commandite, an anonymous partnership or any similar partnership;

(ii) if a partner in the partnership is a legal person or a natural person acting on behalf of a partnership or in pursuance of the provisions of a trust agreement, the beneficial owner of that legal person, partnership or trust;

(iii) the natural person who exercises executive control over the partnership; and

(iv) each natural person who purports to be authorised to enter into a single transaction or establish a business relationship with the accountable institution on behalf of the partnership; and

(i) the particulars obtained in paragraph (a); and

(ii) the identities of the natural persons referred to in paragraph (b) so that the accountable institution is satisfied that it knows the identities of the natural persons concerned.

[S 21B(3) substituted by s 22(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(4) If a person, in entering into a single transaction or establishing a business relationship as contemplated in section 21, is acting in pursuance of the provisions of a trust agreement, an accountable institution must, in addition to the steps required under sections 21 and 21A and in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme—

(a) establish the identifying name and number of the trust, if applicable;

(b) establish the address of the Master of the High Court where the trust is registered, if applicable;

(i) each founder; and

(ii) if a founder of the trust is a legal person or a person acting on behalf of a partnership or in pursuance of the provisions of a trust agreement, the beneficial owner of that legal person, partnership or trust;

(d) in respect of the trustees of the trust, establish the identity of—

(i) each trustee;

(iA) if a trustee is a legal person or a person acting on behalf of a partnership, the beneficial owner of that legal person or partnership; and

(ii) each natural person who purports to be authorised to enter into a single transaction or establish a business relationship with the accountable institution on behalf of the trust, whether such a person is appointed as a trustee of the trust or not;

(e) in respect of the beneficiaries of the trust, establish—

(i) the identity of each beneficiary referred to by name in the trust instrument or other founding instrument in terms of which the trust is created;

(iA) if a beneficiary referred to by name in the trust instrument is a legal person or a person acting on behalf of a partnership or in pursuance of the provisions of a trust agreement, the beneficial owner of that legal person, partnership or trust; and

(ii) if beneficiaries are not referred to by name in the trust instrument or other founding instrument in terms of which the trust is created, the particulars of how the beneficiaries of the trust are determined;

(f) take reasonable steps to verify the particulars obtained in paragraphs (a), (b) and (e)(ii); and

(g) take reasonable steps to verify the identities of the natural persons referred to in paragraphs (c), (d), (e) (i) and (iA) so that the accountable institution is satisfied that it knows the identities of the natural persons concerned.

[S 21B (4) substituted by s 22(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(5) This section applies in respect of a legal person, partnership or trust or a similar arrangement between natural persons, whether it is incorporated or originated in the Republic or elsewhere.

[S 21B inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

21C. Ongoing due diligence

(1) An accountable institution must, in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme, conduct ongoing due diligence in respect of a business relationship, which includes—

(a) monitoring of transactions undertaken throughout the course of the relationship, including, where necessary—

(i) the source of funds, to ensure that the transactions are consistent with the accountable institution’s knowledge of the client and the client’s business and risk profile; and

(ii) the background and purpose of all complex, unusual large transactions, and all unusual patterns of transactions, which have no apparent business or lawful purpose; and

(b) keeping information obtained for the purpose of establishing and verifying the identities of clients pursuant to sections 21, 21A and 21B of this Act, up to date.

[S 21C(1), formerly s 21C, renumbered by s 23 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) If an accountable institution suspects that a transaction or activity is suspicious or unusual as contemplated in section 29, and the institution reasonably believes that in performing the customer due diligence requirements in terms of this section will disclose to the client that a report will be made in terms of section 29, it may discontinue the customer due diligence process and consider making a report under section 29.

[S 21C(2) inserted by s 23 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[S 21C inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

21D. Doubts about veracity of previously obtained information and when reporting suspicious and unusual transactions

When an accountable institution, subsequent to entering into a single transaction or establishing a business relationship—

(a) doubts the veracity or adequacy of previously obtained information which the institution is required to verify as contemplated in sections 21 and 21B; or

(b) makes a suspicious or unusual transaction report in terms of section 29,

the institution must repeat the steps contemplated in sections 21 and 21B in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme and to the extent that is necessary to confirm the information previously obtained.

[S 21D inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017; substituted by s 24 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

21E. Inability to conduct customer due diligence

If an accountable institution is unable to—

(a) establish and verify the identity of a client or other relevant person in accordance with section 21 or 21B;

(b) obtain the information contemplated in section 21A; or

the institution—

(i) may not establish a business relationship or conclude a single transaction with a client;

(ii) may not conclude a transaction in the course of a business relationship, or perform any act to give effect to a single transaction; or

(iii) must terminate, in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme, an existing business relationship with a client,

as the case may be, and consider making a report under section 29 of this Act.

[S 21E inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

21F. Foreign politically exposed person

[S 21F heading substituted by s 25(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

If an accountable institution determines in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme that a prospective client with whom it engages to establish a business relationship, or the beneficial owner of that prospective client, is a foreign politically exposed person, the institution must—

(a) obtain senior management approval for establishing the business relationship;

(b) take reasonable measures to establish the source of wealth and source of funds of the client; and

[S 21F inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017 and amended by s 25(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

21G. Domestic politically exposed person and prominent influential person

[S 21G heading substituted by s 26(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

If an accountable institution determines that a prospective client with whom it engages to establish a business relationship, or the beneficial owner of that prospective client, is a politically exposed person or a prominent influential person and that, in accordance with its Risk Management and Compliance Programme, the prospective business relationship entails higher risk, the institution must—

(a) obtain senior management approval for establishing the business relationship;

(b) take reasonable measures to establish the source of wealth and source of funds of the client; and

[S 21G inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017 and amended by s 26(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

21H. Family members and known close associates

(1) Sections 21F and 21G apply to immediate family members and known close associates of a foreign or domestic politically exposed person or a prominent influential person, as the case may be.

[S 21H(1) substituted by s 27 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an immediate family member includes—

(a) the spouse, civil partner or life partner;

(b) the previous spouse, civil partner or life partner, if applicable;

(d) parents; and

(e) sibling and step sibling and their spouse, civil partner or life partner.

[S 21H inserted by s 10 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

Part 2

Duty to keep record

22. Obligation to keep customer due diligence records

(1) When an accountable institution is required to obtain information pertaining to a client or prospective client pursuant to sections 21 to 21H the institution must keep a record of that information.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the records must—

(a) include copies of, or references to, information provided to or obtained by the accountable institution to verify a person’s identity; and

(b) in the case of a business relationship, reflect the information obtained by the accountable institution under section 21A concerning—

(i) the nature of the business relationship;

(ii) the intended purpose of the business relationship; and

(iii) the source of the funds which the prospective client is expected to use in concluding transactions in the course of the business relationship.

[S 22 substituted by s 11 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 22 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

22A. Obligation to keep transaction records

(1) An accountable institution must keep a record of every transaction, whether the transaction is a single transaction or concluded in the course of a business relationship which that accountable institution has with the client, that are reasonably necessary to enable that transaction to be readily reconstructed.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), records must reflect the following information—

(a) The amount involved and the currency in which it was denominated;

(b) the date on which the transaction was concluded;

(d) the nature of the transaction;

(e) business correspondence; and

(f) if an accountable institution provides account facilities to its clients, the identifying particulars of all accounts and the account files at the accountable institution that are related to the transaction.

[S 22A inserted by s 12 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

23. Period for which records must be kept

An accountable institution must keep the records which relate to—

(a) the establishment of a business relationship referred to in section 22, for at least five years from the date on which the business relationship is terminated;

(b) a transaction referred to in section 22A which is concluded, for at least five years from the date on which that transaction is concluded; and

(c) a transaction or activity which gave rise to a report contemplated in section 29, for at least five years from the date on which the report was submitted to the Centre.

[S 23 substituted by s 13 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 23 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

24. Records may be kept in electronic form and by third parties

(1) The duties imposed by sections 22 and 22A on an accountable institution to keep a record of the matters specified in those sections may be performed by a third party on behalf of the accountable institution as long as the accountable institution has free and easy access to the records and the records are readily available to the Centre and the relevant supervisory body for the purposes of performing its functions in terms of this Act.

(2) If a third party referred to in subsection (1) fails to properly comply with the requirements of sections 22 and 22A on behalf of the accountable institution concerned, the accountable institution is liable for that failure.

(3) If an accountable institution appoints a third party to perform the duties imposed on it by sections 22 and 22A, the accountable institution must forthwith provide the Centre and the supervisory body concerned with the prescribed particulars regarding the third party.

(4) Records kept in terms of sections 22 and 22A may be kept in electronic form and must be capable of being reproduced in a legible format.

[S 24 substituted by s 14 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 24 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

25. Admissibility of records

A record kept in terms of section 22, 22A or 24, or a certified extract of any such record, or a certified print out of any extract of an electronic record, is on its mere production in a matter before a court admissible as evidence of any fact contained in it of which direct oral evidence would be admissible.

[S 25 substituted by s 15 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 25 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

26. …

[S 26 amended by s 7 of Act 11 of 2008; repealed by s 16 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

Part 2A

Financial sanctions

26A. Notification of persons and entities identified by Security Council of the United Nations

(1) A resolution adopted by the Security Council of the United Nations when acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, providing for financial sanctions which entail the identification of persons or entities against whom member states of the United Nations must take the actions specified in the resolution, has immediate effect for the purposes of this Act upon its adoption by the Security Council of the United Nations.

(1A) A resolution contemplated in subsection (1) ceases to be in effect upon a decision of the Security Council of the United Nations to no longer apply that resolution

(2) …

[S 26A(2) repealed by s 24 of Act 23 of 2022 with effect from 4 January 2023.]

(3) The Director must, by appropriate means of publication, give notice of—

(Aa) the adoption of a resolution by the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in subsection (1);

(a) persons and entities being identified from time to time by the Security Council of the United Nations pursuant to a resolution contemplated in subsection (1);

(b) a decision of the Security Council of the United Nations to no longer apply a resolution contemplated in subsection (1A) to previously identified persons or entities; and

(c) a decision of the Security Council of the United Nations to no longer apply a resolution contemplated in subsection (1A).

[S 26A inserted by s 17 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019; substituted by s 28 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

26B. Prohibitions relating to persons and entities identified by Security Council of the United Nations

(1) No person may, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, and by any means or method—

(a) acquire, collect, use, possess or own property;

(b) provide or make available, or invite a person to provide or make available property;

(d) provide or make available, or invite a person to provide or make available economic support; or

(e) facilitate the acquisition, collection, use or provision of property, or the provision of any financial or other service, or the provision of economic support,

intending that the property, financial or other service or economic support, as the case may be, be used, or while the person knows or ought reasonably to have known or suspected that the property, service or support concerned will be used, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, for the benefit of, or on behalf of, or at the direction of, or under the control of a person or an entity identified pursuant to a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A(1).

[S 26B(1), words following on (e), substituted by s 29(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) No person may, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, and by any means or method deal with, enter into or facilitate any transaction or perform any other act in connection with property which such person knows or ought reasonably to have known or suspected to have been acquired, collected, used, possessed, owned or provided for the benefit of, or on behalf of, or at the direction of, or under the control of a person or an entity—

(a) identified pursuant to a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated section 26A (1); or

(b) acting on behalf of or at the direction of a person or entity contemplated in paragraph (a).

[S 26B(2) substituted by s 29(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(3) No person who knows or ought reasonably to have known or suspected that property is property referred to in subsection (1), may enter into, or become concerned in, an arrangement which in any way has or is likely to have the effect of—

(a) making it possible for a person or an entity identified pursuant to a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A(1) to retain or control the property;

[S 26B(3)(a) substituted by s 29(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(b) converting the property;

(c) concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition or movement of the property, the ownership thereof or any interest anyone may have therein;

(d) removing the property from a jurisdiction; or

(e) transferring the property to a nominee.

[S 26B inserted by s 17 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

26C. Permitted financial services and dealing with property

(1) The Minister may, in writing and on the conditions as he or she considers appropriate and in accordance with a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A(1), permit a person to conduct financial services or deal with property referred to in section 26B in the circumstances referred to in subsection (2).

[S 26C(1) substituted by s 30 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) The Minister may permit the provision of financial services or the dealing with property if it is necessary to—

(a) provide for basic expenses, including, at least—

(i) foodstuffs;

(ii) rent or mortgage;

(iii) medicines or medical treatment;

(iv) taxes;

(v) insurance premiums;

(vi) public utility charges;

(vii) maintenance orders;

(viii) reasonable professional fees, and

(ix) reimbursement of expenses associated with the provision of legal services;

(b) satisfy a judgment or arbitral award that was made before the date on which the person or entity was identified by the Security Council of the United Nations;

(c) make a payment to a third party which is due under a contract, agreement or other obligation made before the date on which the person or entity was identified by the Security Council of the United Nations;

(d) accrue interest or other earnings due on accounts holding property affected by a prohibition under section 26B;

(e) make a payment due to a person or entity affected by a prohibition under section 26B by virtue of a contract, agreement or other obligation made before the date on which the person or entity was identified by the Security Council of the United Nations: Provided that the payment is not directly or indirectly being received by that person or entity.

(3) The Minister may permit the provision of financial services or the dealing with property under subsection (1) on his or her own initiative or at the request of a person affected by a prohibition under section 26B.

(4) The Director must, by appropriate means of publication, give notice of the Minister’s permission of the provision of financial services or the dealing with property under subsection (1).

(5)

(a) The Minister may, in writing, delegate any power conferred in terms of this section, to the Director.

(b) A delegation in terms of paragraph (a)—

(i) is subject to any limitations or conditions that the Minister may impose;

(ii) does not divest the Minister of the responsibility concerning the exercise of the delegated power or the performance of the assigned duty.

(c) The Minister may vary or revoke any decision taken by the Director as a result of a delegation in terms of paragraph (a), subject to any rights that may have vested as a consequence of the decision.

[S 26C inserted by s 17 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

Part 3

Reporting duties and access to information

27. Accountable institutions, reporting institutions and persons subject to reporting obligations to advise Centre of clients

If an authorised representative of the Centre requests an accountable institution, a reporting institution or a person that is required to make a report in terms of section 29 of this Act to advise—

(a) whether a specified person is or has been a client of the accountable institution, reporting institution or person;

(b) whether a specified person is acting or has acted on behalf of any client of the accountable institution, reporting institution or person;

(c) whether a client of the accountable institution, reporting institution or person is acting or has acted for a specified person;

(d) whether a number specified by the Centre was allocated by the accountable institution, reporting institution or person to a person with whom the accountable institution, reporting institution or person has or has had a business relationship; or

(e) on the type and status of a business relationship with a client of the accountable institution, reporting institution or person,

the accountable institution, reporting institution or person must inform the Centre accordingly.

[S 27 substituted by s 18 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

[S 27 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

27A. Powers of access by authorised representative to records of accountable institutions

[S 27A heading substituted by s 31(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(1) Subject to subsection (2), an authorised representative of the Centre has access during ordinary working hours to any records kept by or on behalf of an accountable institution in terms of section 22, 22A or 24, and may examine, make extracts from or copies of, any such records for the purposes of obtaining further information in respect of a report made or ought to be made in terms of section 28, 28A, 29, 30(1) or 31.

(2) The authorised representative of the Centre may, except in the case of records which the public is entitled to have access to, exercise the powers mentioned in subsection (1) only by virtue of a warrant issued in chambers by a magistrate or regional magistrate or judge of an area of jurisdiction within which the records or any of them are kept, or within which the accountable institution conducts business.

(3) A warrant may only be issued if it appears to the judge, magistrate or regional magistrate from information on oath or affirmation that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the records referred to in subsection (1) may assist the Centre to identify the proceeds of unlawful activities or to combat money laundering activities, the financing of terrorist and related activities or proliferation financing activities.

[S 27A(3) substituted by s 31(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(4) A warrant issued in terms of this section may contain such conditions regarding access to the relevant records as the judge, magistrate or regional magistrate considers appropriate.

(5) An accountable institution must without delay give to an authorised representative of the Centre all reasonable assistance necessary to enable that representative to exercise the powers mentioned in subsection (1).

[S 27A inserted by s 19 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

28. Cash transactions above prescribed limit

An accountable institution and a reporting institution must, within the prescribed period, report to the Centre the prescribed particulars concerning a transaction concluded with a client if in terms of the transaction an amount of cash in excess of the prescribed amount—

(a) is paid by the accountable institution or reporting institution to the client, or to a person acting on behalf of the client, or to a person on whose behalf the client is acting; or

(b) is received by the accountable institution or reporting institution from the client, or from a person acting on behalf of the client, or from a person on whose behalf the client is acting.

[S 28 commencement: 4 October 2010.]

28A. Property associated with terrorist and related activities and financial sanctions pursuant to Resolutions of United Nations Security Council

[S 28A heading substituted by s 20(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

(1) An accountable institution which has in its possession or under its control property owned or controlled by or on behalf of, or at the direction of-

(a) any entity which has committed, or attempted to commit, or facilitated the commission of a specified offence as defined in the Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, 2004;

(b) …

[S 28A(1)(b) repealed by s 24 of Act 23 of 2022 with effect from 4 January 2023.]

(c) a person or an entity identified pursuant to a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A(1),

[S 28A(1)(c) substituted by s 32 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

must within the prescribed period report that fact and the prescribed particulars to the Centre.

[S 28A(1) substituted by s 20(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

(2) The Director may direct an accountable institution which has made a report under subsection (1) to report—

(a) at such intervals as may be determined in the direction, that it is still in possession or control of the property in respect of which the report under subsection (1) had been made; and

(b) any change in the circumstances concerning the accountable institution’s possession or control of that property.

(3) An accountable institution must upon—

(a) …

[S 28A(3)(a) repealed by s 24 of Act 23 of 2022 with effect from 4 January 2023.]

(b) notice being given by the Director under section 26A(3),

scrutinise its information concerning clients with whom the accountable institution has business relationships in order to determine whether any such client is a person or entity mentioned in the proclamation by the President or the notice by the Director.

[S 28A(3) inserted by s 20(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

[S 28A inserted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004.]

29. Suspicious and unusual transactions

(1) A person who carries on a business or is in charge of or manages a business or who is employed by a business and who knows or ought reasonably to have known or suspected that—

(a) the business has received or is about to receive the proceeds of unlawful activities or property which is connected to an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities;

(b) a transaction or series of transactions to which the business is a party—

(i) facilitated or is likely to facilitate the transfer of the proceeds of unlawful activities or property which is connected to an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities;

(ii) has no apparent business or lawful purpose;

(iii) is conducted for the purpose of avoiding giving rise to a reporting duty under this Act;

(iv) may be relevant to the investigation of an evasion or attempted evasion of a duty to pay any tax, duty or levy imposed by legislation administered by the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service;

[S 29(1)(b)(iv) substituted by s 21(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(v) relates to an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities;

(vi) relates to the contravention of a prohibition under section 26B; or

[S 29(1)(b)(vi) substituted by s 21(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

(c) the business has been used or is about to be used in any way for money laundering purposes or to facilitate the commission of an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities,

must, within the prescribed period after the knowledge was acquired or the suspicion arose, report to the Centre the grounds for the knowledge or suspicion and the prescribed particulars concerning the transaction or series of transactions.

[S 29(1) substituted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004.]

(2) A person who carries on a business or is in charge of or manages a business or who is employed by a business and who knows or suspects that a transaction or a series of transactions about which enquiries are made, may, if that transaction or those transactions had been concluded, have caused any of the consequences referred to in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c), must, within the prescribed period after the knowledge was acquired or the suspicion arose, report to the Centre the grounds for the knowledge or suspicion and the prescribed particulars concerning the transaction or series of transactions.

(3) No person who made or must make a report in terms of this section may, subject to subsection 45B(2A), disclose that fact or any information regarding the contents of any such report to any other person, including the person in respect of whom the report is or must be made, otherwise than—

[S 29(3), words preceding (a), substituted by s 21(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(a) within the scope of the powers and duties of that person in terms of any legislation;

(b) for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act;

(d) in terms of an order of court.

(4) No person who knows or suspects that a report has been or is to be made in terms of this section may disclose that knowledge or suspicion or any information regarding the contents or suspected contents of any such report to any other person, including the person in respect of whom the report is or is to be made, otherwise than—

(a) within the scope of that person’s powers and duties in terms of any legislation;

(b) for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act;

(d) in terms of an order of court.

[S 29 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

30. Conveyance of cash to or from Republic

(1) A person who intends conveying or who has conveyed or who is conveying an amount of cash or a bearer negotiable instrument in excess of the prescribed amount to or from the Republic must, on demand, report the prescribed particulars concerning that conveyance to a person authorised by the Minister for this purpose.

[S 30(1) substituted by s 8 of Act 11 of 2008.]

(2) A person authorised in terms of subsection (1) must without delay send a copy of the report to the Centre.

[S 30 commencement: To be proclaimed.]

31. Electronic transfers of money to or from Republic

If an accountable institution through electronic transfer sends money in excess of a prescribed amount out of the Republic or receives money in excess of a prescribed amount from outside the Republic on behalf, or on the instruction, of another person, it must, within the prescribed period after the money was transferred, report the transfer, together with the prescribed particulars concerning the transfer, to the Centre.

[S 31 commencement: 1 February 2023.]

32. Reporting procedures and furnishing of additional information

(1) A report in terms of section 28, 29 or 31 to the Centre and a report in terms of section 30(1) to a person authorised by the Minister must be made in the prescribed manner

(2) The Centre may request an accountable institution, a reporting institution or any other person that has made a report in terms of section 28, 29 or 31 to furnish the Centre with such additional information, including prescribed information relating to transactional activity and supporting documentation, concerning the report and the grounds for the report as the Centre may reasonably require for the performance by it of its functions.

[S 32(2) substituted by s 22(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

(3) When an institution or a person referred to in subsection (2) receives a request under that subsection, that institution or person must furnish the Centre in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed period with such additional information concerning the report and the grounds for the report as that institution or person may have available.

[S 32(3) substituted by s 22(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 32 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

33. Continuation of transactions

An accountable institution, reporting institution or person required to make a report to the Centre in terms of section 28 or 29, may continue with and carry out the transaction in respect of which the report is required to be made unless the Centre directs the accountable institution, reporting institution or person in terms of section 34 not to proceed with the transaction.

[S 33 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

34. Intervention by Centre

(1) If the Centre, after consulting an accountable institution, a reporting institution or a person required to make a report in terms of section 28, 28A or 29, has reasonable grounds to suspect that a transaction or a proposed transaction may—

(a) involve—

(i) the proceeds of unlawful activities or property which is connected to an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities; or

(ii) property owned or controlled by or on behalf of, or at the direction of a person or entity identified pursuant to a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A(1);

[S 34(1)(a)(ii) substituted by s 33 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022).]

(b) constitute—

(i) money laundering; or

(ii) a transaction contemplated in section 29(1)(b),

it may direct the accountable institution, reporting institution or person in writing not to proceed with the carrying out of that transaction or proposed transaction or any other transaction in respect of the funds affected by that transaction or proposed transaction for a period not longer than 10 days as determined by the Centre, in order to allow the Centre to make the necessary inquiries concerning the transaction and, if the Centre considers it appropriate, to inform and advise an investigating authority or the National Director of Public Prosecutions.

(2) For the purposes of calculating the period of 10 days in subsection (1), Saturdays, Sundays and proclaimed public holidays must not be taken into account.

(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the carrying out of a transaction to which the rules of an exchange licensed in terms of the Financial Markets Act, 2012 (Act 19 of 2012), apply.

[S 34 amended by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004, s 9 of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 23 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

[S 34 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

35. Monitoring orders

(1) A judge designated by the Minister of Justice for the purposes of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Act, 2002 (Act No. 70 of 2002), may, upon written application by the Centre, order an accountable institution to report to the Centre, on such terms and in such confidential manner as may be specified in the order, all transactions concluded by a specified person with the accountable institution or all transactions conducted in respect of a specified account or facility at the accountable institution, if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that-

(a) that person has transferred or may transfer to the accountable institution—

(i) the proceeds of unlawful activities;

(ii) property which is connected to an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities; or

(iii) property owned or controlled by or on behalf of, or at the direction of a person or entity identified pursuant to a resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations contemplated in section 26A(1);

[S 35(1)(a)(iii) substituted by s 34(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(b) that account or other facility has received or may receive—

(i) the proceeds of unlawful activities;

(ii) property which is connected to an offence relating to the financing of terrorist and related activities; or

[S 35(1)(b)(iii) substituted by s 34(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(c) that person is using or may use the accountable institution for money laundering purposes or for the financing of terrorist acts or for the purpose of any transaction contemplated in section 29(1)(b); or

(d) that account or other facility is being or may be used for money laundering purposes or for the financing of terrorist or related activities or for the purpose of any transaction contemplated in section 29(1)(b).

[S 35(1) substituted by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004, s 24 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019.]

(2) An order in terms of subsection (1) lapses after three months unless extended in terms of subsection (3).

(3) A judge referred to in subsection (1) may extend an order issued in terms of subsection (1) for further periods not exceeding three months at a time if—

(a) the reasonable grounds for the suspicion on which the order is based still exist; and

(b) the judge is satisfied that the interest of justice is best served by monitoring the person, account or facility referred to in subsection (1) in the manner provided for in this section.

(4) An application referred to in subsection (1) must be heard and an order must be issued without notice to or hearing the person or persons involved in the suspected money-laundering activities.

[S 35 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

36. Information held by supervisory bodies and South African Revenue Service

(1) If a supervisory body or the South African Revenue Service knows or suspects that an accountable institution wittingly or unwittingly has received or is about to receive the proceeds of unlawful activities or has been used or may be used in future for money laundering purposes or for the purpose of any transaction contemplated in section 29(1)(b), it must advise the Centre and any authority, service or body contemplated in section 3 or any other supervisory body that, in the opinion of the supervisory body or the South African Revenue Service, may have an interest therein, of that fact and furnish them with all information and any records regarding that knowledge or suspicion which they may reasonably require to identify the proceeds of unlawful activities or to combat money laundering activities or financing of terrorist and related activities.

[S 36(1) substituted by s 10(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(2) If the Centre believes that a supervisory body or the South African Revenue Service may have information indicating that an accountable institution wittingly or unwittingly has received or is about to receive the proceeds of unlawful activities or has been used or may be used in future for money laundering purposes or for the purpose of any transaction contemplated in section 29(1)(b), the Centre may request that supervisory body or the South African Revenue Service to confirm or rebut that belief and the supervisory body or South African Revenue Service, as the case may be, must do so and, if that belief is confirmed, must furnish the Centre and any authority, service or body referred to in section 3 or any other supervisory body identified by the Centre that may have an interest in that matter with all information and any records regarding that knowledge or suspicion which the Centre may reasonably require for the achievement of its objectives.

[S 36(2) substituted by s 10(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(3) The Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service and the chief executive officer of a supervisory body may make such reasonable procedural arrangements and impose such reasonable safeguards regarding the furnishing of information referred to in section 5(2) and subsections (1) and (2) of this section as the Commissioner or such officer considers appropriate to maintain the confidentiality, if any, of that information.

[S 36(3) substituted by s 35 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[S 36 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

37. Reporting duty and obligations to provide information not affected by confidentiality rules

(1) Subject to subsection (2), no duty of secrecy or confidentiality or any other restriction on the disclosure of information, whether imposed by legislation or arising from the common law or agreement, affects compliance by an accountable institution, supervisory body, reporting institution or any other person with a provision of this Part, Part 4 and Chapter 4.

[S 37(1) substituted by s 11 of Act 11 of 2008, s 36 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the common law right to legal professional privilege as between an attorney and the attorney’s client in respect of communications made in confidence between—

(a) the attorney and the attorney’s client for the purposes of legal advice or litigation which is pending or contemplated or which has commenced; or

(b) a third party and an attorney for the purposes of litigation which is pending or contemplated or has commenced.

[S 37 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

38. Protection of persons making reports

(1) No action, whether criminal or civil, lies against an accountable institution, reporting institution, supervisory body, the South African Revenue Service or any other person complying in good faith with a provision of this Part, Part 4 and Chapter 4, including any director, employee or other person acting on behalf of such accountable institution, reporting institution, supervisory body, the South African Revenue Service or such other person.

[S 38(1) substituted by s 12 of Act 11 of 2008.]

(2) A person who has made, initiated or contributed to a report in terms of section 28, 29 or 31 or who has furnished additional information concerning such a report or the grounds for such a report in terms of a provision of this Part is competent, but not compellable, to give evidence in criminal proceedings arising from the report.

(3) No evidence concerning the identity of a person who has made, initiated or contributed to a report in terms of section 28, 29 or 31 or who has furnished additional information concerning such a report or the grounds for such a report in terms of a provision of this Part, or the contents or nature of such additional information or grounds, is admissible as evidence in criminal proceedings unless that person testifies at those proceedings.

[S 38 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

39. Admissibility as evidence of reports made to Centre

A certificate issued by an official of the Centre that information specified in the certificate was reported or sent to the Centre in terms of section 28, 29, 30(2) or 31 is, subject to section 38(3), on its mere production in a matter before a court admissible as evidence of any fact contained in it of which direct oral evidence would be admissible.

[S 39 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

40. Access to information held by Centre

(1) Subject to this section, the Centre must make information reported to it, or obtained by it under this Part and information generated by its analysis of information so reported or obtained, available to—

(a) an investigating authority in the Republic;

(aA) the National Prosecuting Authority;

(aB) the Independent Police Investigative Directorate;

(aC) an intelligence service;

(aD) the Intelligence Division of the National Defence Force;

(aE) a Special Investigating Unit;

(aF) an investigative division in a national department;

[S 40(1)(aF) substituted by s 37(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(aG) the Public Protector;

[S 40(1)(aG) substituted by s 37(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(aH) the South African Revenue Service; or

[S 40(1)(aH) substituted by s 37(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(aI) the investigative division of the Auditor-General;

[S 40(1)(aI) inserted by s 37(d) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(b) an entity outside the Republic performing similar functions to those of the Centre, or an investigating authority outside the Republic;

(d) a supervisory body;

(e) a person who is entitled to receive such information in terms of an order of a court; or

(f) a person who is entitled to receive such information in terms of other national legislation.

(1A) Information contemplated in subsection (1) may only be made available to an entity referred to in subsection (1)(a), (aA), (aB), (aC), (aD), (aE), (aF), (aG), (aH), (aI) or—

(a) at the initiative of the Centre or at the request of an authorised officer of the entity; and

(b) if the Centre reasonably believes such information is required to investigate suspected unlawful activity.

[S 40(1A) amended by s 37(e) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(1B) Information contemplated in subsection (1) may only be made available to an entity or authority referred to in subsection (1)(b)—

(a) at the initiative of the Centre or at the request of the entity or authority; and

(b) if the Centre reasonably believes such information is relevant to the identification of the proceeds of unlawful activities or the combating of money laundering or financing of terrorist and related activities or similar offences in the country in which the entity or authority is established.

(1C) Information contemplated in subsection (1) may only be made available to a supervisory body referred to in subsection (1)(d)—

(a) at the initiative of the Centre or at the request of the supervisory body; and

(b) if the Centre reasonably believes such information is relevant to the exercise by the supervisory body of its powers or performance by it of its functions under any law.

(2) A request for information contemplated in subsection (1A) or (1C) must be in writing and must specify the required information and the purpose for which the information is required.

(3) The Director may, as a condition to the provision of any information contemplated in subsection (1), make the reasonable procedural arrangements and impose the reasonable safeguards regarding the furnishing of such information that the Director considers appropriate to maintain the confidentiality of that information before the information is provided.

(4) Information contemplated in subsection (1) may only be provided to an entity or authority referred to in subsection (1)(b) pursuant to a written agreement between the Centre and the entity or the authority which is responsible for the entity or authority, regulating the exchange of information between the Centre and the entity or authority.

(5) An agreement referred to in subsection (4) does not—

(a) take effect until it has been approved in writing by the Minister;

(b) permit the Centre to provide any category of information to the entity or authority in respect of which the agreement is concluded which the entity or authority is not permitted to provide to the Centre.

(6) A person who obtains information from the Centre may use that information only—

(a) within the scope of that person’s powers and duties; and

(b) in the case of a request contemplated in subsection (2), for the purpose specified in that request.

(7) The Centre may make available any information obtained by it during an inspection to an organ of state, a supervisory body, other regulatory authority, self-regulating association or organisation which the Centre reasonably believes is affected by or has an interest in that information.

(8) The Centre must make information it holds available to the appropriate National Intelligence Structure, as defined in section 1 of the National Strategic Intelligence Act, 1994 (Act 39 of 1994), if it reasonably believes that the information relates to any potential threat or threat to the national security, as defined in section 1 of that Act.

(9) The Centre may, at the initiative of the Centre or on written request, disclose information it holds, other than information contemplated in subsections (1), (7) and (8), to an accountable institution or class of accountable institutions or any other person unless the Centre reasonably believes that the disclosure may—

(a) inhibit the achievement of the Centre’s objectives or the performance of its functions, or the achievement of the objectives or the performance of the functions of another organ of state; or

(b) prejudice the rights of any person.

[S 40 amended by s 27 of Act 33 of 2004, s 13 of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 25 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

[S 40 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

41. Protection of confidential information

No person may disclose confidential information held by or obtained from the Centre except—

(a) within the scope of that person’s powers and duties in terms of any legislation;

(b) for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act;

(d) for the purpose of legal proceedings, including any proceedings before a judge in chambers; or

(e) in terms of an order of court.

[S 41 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

41A. Protection of personal information

(1) The Centre must ensure that appropriate measures are taken in respect of personal information in its possession or under its control to prevent—

(a) loss of, damage to or unauthorised destruction of the information; and

(b) unlawful access to or processing of personal information, other than in accordance with this Act and the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act 4 of 2013).

(2) In order to give effect to subsection (1) the Centre must take reasonable measures to—

(a) identify all reasonable and foreseeable internal and external risks to personal information in its possession or under its control;

(b) establish and maintain appropriate safeguards against the risks identified;

(d) ensure that the safeguards are continually updated in response to new risks or deficiencies in previously implemented safeguards.

(3) The Minister may prescribe requirements for the protection of personal information to facilitate the sharing of information between accountable institutions when the sharing of information is necessary for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of section 29, to ensure that adequate safeguards are in place as required by section 6(1)(c) of the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013.

[S 41A(3) inserted by s 38 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

[S 41A inserted by s 26 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

Part 4

Measures to promote compliance by accountable institutions

42. Risk Management and Compliance Programme

(1) An accountable institution must develop, document, maintain and implement a programme for anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and proliferation financing risk management and compliance.

[S 42(1) substituted by s 39(a) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) A Risk Management and Compliance Programme must—

(a) enable the accountable institution to—

(i) identify;

(ii) assess;

(iii) monitor;

(iv) mitigate; and

(v) manage,

the risk that the provision by the accountable institution of new and existing products or services may involve or facilitate money laundering activities, the financing of terrorist and related activities or proliferation financing activities;

[S 42(2)(a), words following on (v), substituted by s 39(b) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(b) provide for the manner in which the institution determines if a person is—

(i) a prospective client in the process of establishing a business relationship or entering into a single transaction with the institution; or

(ii) a client who has established a business relationship or entered into a single transaction;

(d) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which the establishment and verification of the identity of persons whom the accountable institution must identify in terms of Part 1 of this Chapter is performed in the institution;

(e) provide for the manner in which the institution determines whether future transactions that will be performed in the course of the business relationship are consistent with the institution’s knowledge of a prospective client;

(f) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which the institution conducts additional due diligence measures in respect of legal persons, trust and partnerships;

(g) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which ongoing due diligence and account monitoring in respect of business relationships is conducted by the institution;

(h) provide for the manner in which the examining of—

(i) complex or unusually large transactions; and

(ii) unusual patterns of transactions which have no apparent business or lawful purpose and keeping of written findings relating thereto, is done by the institution;

(i) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which the institution will confirm information relating to a client when the institution has doubts about the veracity of previously obtained information and when reporting suspicious and unusual transactions in accordance with section 21D;

[S 42(2)(i) substituted by s 39(c) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(j) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which the institution will perform the customer due diligence requirements in accordance with sections 21, 21A, 21B and 21C when, during the course of a business relationship, the institution suspects that a transaction or activity is suspicious or unusual as contemplated in section 29;

(k) provide for the manner in which the accountable institution will terminate an existing business relationship as contemplated in section 21E;

(l) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which the accountable institution determines whether a prospective client or an existing client is a foreign or a domestic politically exposed person or a prominent influential person;

[S 42(2)(l) substituted by s 39(d) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(m) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which the accountable institution conducts enhanced due diligence for higher-risk single transactions and business relationships and when simplified customer due diligence might be permitted in the institution;

[S 42(2)(m) substituted by s 39(e) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(n) provide for the manner in which and place at which the records are kept in terms of Part 2 of this Chapter;

(o) enable the institution to determine when a transaction or activity is reportable to the Centre under Part 3 of this Chapter;

(p) provide for the processes for reporting information to the Centre under Part 3 of this Chapter;

(q) provide for the manner in which—

(i) the Risk Management and Compliance Programme is implemented in branches, subsidiaries or other operations of the institution in foreign countries so as to enable the institution to comply with its obligations under this Act;

(ii) the institution will determine if the host country of a foreign branch, subsidiary or other operation permits the implementation of measures required under this Act;

(iii) the institution will inform the Centre and supervisory body concerned if the host country contemplated in subparagraph (ii) does not permit the implementation of measures required under this Act; and

(iv) taking into consideration the level of risk of the host country, the institution will apply appropriate additional measures to manage the risks if the host country does not permit the implementation of measures required under this Act;

[S 42(2)(q) substituted by s 39(f) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(qA) provide for the manner in which and the processes by which group-wide programmes of an accountable institution for all its branches and majority-owned subsidiaries situated in the Republic is implemented so as to enable the institution to—

(i) comply with its obligations under this Act;

(ii) exchange information with its branches or subsidiaries relating to the customer due diligence requirements in terms of this Act;

(iii) exchange information with its branches or subsidiaries relating to the analysis of transactions or activities which the institution suspects to be suspicious or unusual as contemplated in section 29; and

(iv) have adequate safeguards to protect the confidentiality of information exchanged in accordance with this paragraph and this Act

[S 42(2)(qA) inserted by s 39(g) of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(r) provide for the processes for the institution to implement its Risk Management and Compliance Programme; and

(s) provide for any prescribed matter.

(2A) An accountable institution must indicate in its Risk Management and Compliance Programme if any paragraph of subsection (2) is not applicable to that accountable institution and the reason why it is not applicable.

(2B) The board of directors, senior management or other person or group of persons exercising the highest level of authority in an accountable institution must approve the Risk Management and Compliance Programme of the institution.

(2C) An accountable institution must review its Risk Management and Compliance Programme at regular intervals to ensure that the Programme remains relevant to the accountable institution’s operations and the achievement of the requirements contemplated in subsection (2).

(3) An accountable institution must make documentation describing its Risk Management and Compliance Programme available to each of its employees involved in transactions to which this Act applies.

(4) An accountable institution must, on request, make a copy of the documentation describing its Risk Management and Compliance Programme available to—

(a) the Centre; or

(b) a supervisory body which performs regulatory or supervisory functions in respect of that accountable institution.

[S 42 substituted by s 27 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 42 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

42A. Governance of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance

(1) The board of directors of an accountable institution which is a legal person with a board of directors, or the senior management of an accountable institution without a board of directors, must ensure compliance by the accountable institution and its employees with the provisions of this Act and its Risk Management and Compliance Programme.

(2) An accountable institution which is a legal person must—

(a) have a compliance function to assist the board of directors or the senior management, as the case may be, of the institution in discharging their obligations under subsection (1); and

(b) assign a person with sufficient competence and seniority to ensure the effectiveness of the compliance function contemplated in paragraph (a).

(3) The person or persons exercising the highest level of authority in an accountable institution which is not a legal person must ensure compliance by the employees of the institution with the provisions of this Act and its Risk Management and Compliance Programme, in so far as the functions of those employees relate to the obligations of the institution.

(4) An accountable institution which is not a legal person, except for an accountable institution which is a sole practitioner, must appoint a person or persons with sufficient competence to assist the person or persons exercising the highest level of authority in the accountable institution in discharging their obligation under subsection (3).

[S 42A inserted by s 28 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

42B. Consultation process for issuing guidance

Before issuing guidance to accountable institutions, supervisory bodies and other persons regarding the performance and compliance by them of their duties and obligations in terms of this Act or any directive made in terms of this Act, the Centre must—

(a) publish a draft of the guidance by appropriate means of publication and invite submissions; and

(b) consider submissions received.

[S 42B inserted by s 28 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

43. Training relating to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance

An accountable institution must provide ongoing training to its employees to enable them to comply with the provisions of this Act and the Risk Management and Compliance Programme which are applicable to them.

[S 43 substituted by s 29 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 43 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

43A. Directives

(1)

(a) The Centre may, by notice in the Gazette, issue a directive to all institutions to whom the provisions of this Act apply—

(i) regarding the application of this Act; or

(ii) which reasonably may be required to give effect to the Centre’s objectives contemplated in section 3.

(b) The Centre may issue a directive in terms of paragraph (a) only after consulting with supervisory bodies on that directive.

[S 43A(1) substituted by s 30(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(2) The Centre or a supervisory body may, in writing, issue a directive to any category of accountable institutions or category of reporting institutions or other category of persons to whom the provisions of this Act apply—

(a) regarding the application of this Act; or

(b) which reasonably may be required to give effect to the Centre’s objectives contemplated in section 3.

[S 43A(2) substituted by s 30(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3) The Centre or a supervisory body may in writing, over and above any directive contemplated in subsection (1) or (2), issue a directive to any accountable institution, category of accountable institutions, reporting institution, category of reporting institutions or other person to whom the provisions of this Act apply, to—

(a) provide the Centre or that supervisory body, as the case may be—

(i) with the information, reports or statistical returns specified in the notice, at the time or at the intervals specified in the notice; and

(ii) within the period specified in the notice, with any document in its possession or custody or under its control;

(b) cease or refrain from engaging in any act, omission or conduct in contravention of this Act;

(d) perform acts necessary to meet any obligation imposed by this Act.

(4) The Centre or supervisory body may examine a document submitted to it in terms of subsection (3)( a) or make a copy thereof or part thereof.

(5) The costs incurred in complying with a directive must be borne by the accountable institution, reporting institution or person concerned.

(6)

(a) The Centre, in respect of any accountable institution or category of accountable institutions regulated or supervised by a supervisory body in terms of this Act or any other law, may issue a directive in accordance with subsections (2) and (3) only—

(i) if a supervisory body failed to issue a directive despite any recommendation of the Centre made in terms of section 44(b); or

(ii) after consultation with the relevant supervisory body.

[S 43A(6)(a) substituted by s 30(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(b) A supervisory body may issue a directive in terms of this section only after consulting the Centre on that directive.

(7) Before the Centre or supervisory body concerned issues a directive, it must—

(a) in the case of a directive in terms of—

(i) subsection (1), in the Gazette, give notice where a draft of the directive will be available and invite submissions;

(ii) subsection (2), publish a draft of the directive by appropriate means of publication and invite submissions; and

(b) consider submissions received.

[S 43A(7) inserted by s 30(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

[S 43A inserted by s 14 of Act 11 of 2008.]

43B. Registration by accountable institution and reporting institution

(1) Every accountable institution referred to in Schedule 1 and every reporting institution referred to in Schedule 3 must, within the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner, register with the Centre.

(2) The registration of an accountable institution and a reporting institution contemplated in subsection (1) must be accompanied by such particulars as the Centre may require.

(3) The Centre must keep and maintain a register of every accountable institution and reporting institution registered in terms of subsection (1).

(4) A registered accountable institution or reporting institution must notify the Centre, in writing, of any changes to the particulars furnished in terms of this section within 90 days after such a change.

[S 43B inserted by s 14 of Act 11 of 2008.]

Part 5

Referral and supervision

44. Referral of suspected offences to investigating authorities and other public bodies

If the Centre in the performance of its functions has reasonable grounds to suspect that an accountable institution, or any other person other than a supervisory body who is subject to the provisions of this Act, has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Act or any rule or guideline applicable to that accountable institution or person which facilitates compliance with this Act, it may, if it considers it appropriate to do so, refer the matter to—

(a) a relevant investigating authority; or

(b) an appropriate supervisory body or other public body or authority affected by it, together with any recommendation the Centre considers appropriate.

[S 44 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

45. Responsibility for supervision of accountable institutions

(1) Every supervisory body is responsible for supervising and enforcing compliance with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act by all accountable institutions regulated or supervised by it.

[S 45(1) substituted by s 15(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(1A)

(a) The obligation referred to in subsection (1) forms part of the legislative mandate of any supervisory body and constitutes a core function of that supervisory body.

(b) Any Act that regulates a supervisory body or authorises that supervisory body to supervise or regulate any accountable institution must be read as including subsection (1), and a supervisory body may utilise any fees or charges it is authorised to impose or collect to defray expenditure incurred in performing its obligations under this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act.

[S 45(1A) inserted by s 15(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(1B) A supervisory body, in meeting its obligation referred to in subsection (1), may—

(a) in addition to any powers it has in terms of another Act, exercise any power afforded to it in this Act;

(b) delegate the exercise of any power contemplated in paragraph (a) to any of its members, employees or any other suitable person;

(c) take any measures it considers necessary or expedient to meet its obligations imposed by this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act, or to achieve the objectives of the Centre or this Act;

(d) require an accountable institution supervised or regulated by it to report on that institution’s compliance with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act in the form, manner and timeframes determined by the supervisory body;

(e) issue or amend any licence, registration, approval or authorisation that the supervisory body may issue or grant in accordance with any Act, to include the following conditions—

(i) compliance with this Act; and

(ii) the continued availability of human, financial, technological and other resources to ensure compliance with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act; and

(f) in making a determination in accordance with any Act applicable to it as to whether a person is fit and proper to hold office in an accountable institution, take into account any involvement, whether directly or indirectly, by that person in any non-compliance with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this act, or, prior to the commencement of this Act or at any time thereafter, any involvement in—

(i) any money laundering activity; or

(ii) any terrorist or related activity.

[S 45(1B) inserted by s 15(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(1C) A supervisory body must submit to the Centre, within the prescribed period and in the prescribed manner, a written report on any action taken against any accountable institution in terms of this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act.

[S 45(1C) inserted by s 15(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

(1D)

(a) The Centre and a supervisory body must co-ordinate their approach to exercising their powers and performing their functions in terms of this Act to ensure the consistent application of the Act, and must enter into a written memorandum of understanding in respect thereof.

(b) The memorandum of understanding must provide for—

(i) the sharing of information between the parties, which must include—

(aa) the types of information to be furnished by each party; or

(bb) measures to protect confidentiality of the information, including limiting access to specified persons or incumbents of specified positions, subject to section 40(3) and other provisions of this Act and other applicable legislation;

(ii) co-operation between the parties and assisting each other in the exercise of their respective powers and the performance of their respective duties in terms of this Act;

(iii) a dispute resolution mechanism; and

(iv) such other matters as may be prescribed.

[S 45(1D) inserted by s 15(b) of Act 11 of 2008; substituted by s 31 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(2) When the Centre refers a matter to a supervisory body or other public body or authority in terms of section 44, that supervisory body or other public body or authority must investigate the matter and may, after consultation with the Centre, take such steps within the scope of its powers as it considers appropriate to remedy the matter.

(3) Should a supervisory body or other public body or authority to which a suspected contravention or failure is referred in terms of section 44 fail to take adequate steps to ensure that the suspected contravention ceases or the suspected failure is rectified, the Centre may, after consultation with the supervisory body or other public body or authority concerned, take such steps within the scope of its powers as the Centre considers appropriate to remedy the matter.

[S 45 commencement: 3 February 2003.]

CHAPTER 4

COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT

[Chapter 4 heading substituted by s 16(a) of Act 11 of 2008.]

45A. Appointment of inspectors

(1) The Director or the head of a supervisory body, as the case may be, may appoint any person in the service of the Centre or supervisory body or any other suitable person as an inspector.

(2) The Director or the head of a supervisory body may determine the remuneration to be paid to a person who is appointed in terms of subsection (1) that is not in the full-time service of the Centre or supervisory body.

(3)

(a) The Director or the head of a supervisory body must issue an inspector contemplated in subsection (1) with a certificate of appointment signed by the Director or the head of that supervisory body.

(b) A certificate of appointment must specify—

(i) the full name of the person so appointed;

(ii) his or her identity number;

(iii) his or her signature;

(iv) his or her photograph;

(v) a description of the capacity in which he or she is appointed; and

(vi) the extent of his or her powers to inspect.

(4)

(a) Where the head of a supervisory body is authorised by any other Act to appoint inspectors, the head may extend the appointment and functions of inspectors under that Act to include the undertaking of inspections under this Act.

(b) An inspector whose appointment or functions have been extended under paragraph (a) may, in undertaking inspections under this Act, in addition to the functions afforded to such inspector under the Act, contemplated in paragraph (a), perform the functions afforded in this Act.

(c) Any extension contemplated in paragraph (a) must be reflected in any certificate or appointment document issued by the head of the supervisory body to an inspector under the Act contemplated in that paragraph.

(5) When an inspector undertakes an inspection in terms of this Act, the inspector must—

(a) be in possession of a certificate of appointment issued in terms of subsection (3) or contemplated in subsection 4(c); and

(b) on request, show that certificate to any person who is—

(i) affected by the performance of the functions of the inspector; or

(ii) is in charge of any premises to be inspected.

[S 45A inserted by s 16(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

45B. Inspections

(1)

(a) In this section “compliance” means compliance with a provision of this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act and which, if not complied with, constitutes non-compliance.

(b) An inspector appointed in terms of section 45A may enter the premises, excluding a private residence, of an accountable institution or reporting institution which is registered in terms of section 43B or otherwise licensed or authorised by a supervisory body and inspect the affairs of the accountable institution or reporting institution, as the case may be, for the purposes of determining compliance.

[S 45B(1) substituted by s 32(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(1A) An inspector appointed in terms of section 45A may, for the purposes of determining compliance and on the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (1B), enter and inspect—

(a) a private residence; or

(b) any premises other than premises contemplated in subsection (1)(b) or paragraph (a) (in this section referred to as ‘unlicensed business premises’),

if the Centre or a supervisory body reasonably believes that the residence or premises are used for a business to which the provisions of this Act apply.

[S 45B(1A) inserted by s 32(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(1B) A magistrate or judge may issue a warrant contemplated in subsection (1A)—

(a) on written application by the Centre or a supervisory body setting out under oath or affirmation why it is necessary for an inspector to enter and inspect the private residence or unlicensed business premises; and

(b) if it appears to the magistrate or judge from the information under oath or affirmation that—

(i) there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an act of non-compliance has occurred;

(ii) entry and inspection of the private residence or unlicensed business premises are likely to yield information pertaining to the non-compliance; and

(iii) entry and inspection of that residence or those premises are reasonably necessary for the purposes of determining compliance.

[S 45B(1B) inserted by s 32(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(1C) An inspector otherwise required to obtain a warrant for entry and inspection of a private residence or unlicensed business premises in terms of subsection (1A), may enter and inspect that residence or those premises without a warrant—

(a) with the consent of—

(i) in the case of a private residence—

(aa) the person apparently in control of the business reasonably believed to be conducted at the private residence; and

(bb) the occupant of the part of the private residence to be entered and inspected; or

(ii) in the case of unlicensed business premises, the person apparently in control of the business reasonably believed to be conducted at the premises,

after informing him or her that he or she is under no obligation to admit the inspector in the absence of a warrant; or

(b) with the prior authority of the Director or the head of a supervisory body, or a senior staff member of the Centre or supervisory body delegated to perform the function, if the Director, head or senior staff member on reasonable grounds believes that—

(i) a warrant will be issued under subsection (1B) if applied for;

(ii) the delay in obtaining the warrant is likely to defeat the purpose for which entry and inspection of the private residence or unlicensed business premises is sought; and

(iii) it is necessary to enter and inspect that residence or those premises to perform any or all of the actions contemplated in section 45B(2)(a) to (f).

[S 45B(1C) inserted by s 32(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(1D) Where an inspector enters and inspects premises in terms of subsection (1)(b), or a private residence or unlicensed business premises in terms of subsection (1C), he or she must do so—

(a) at a reasonable time within ordinary business hours or, in the case of an entry and inspection in terms of subsection (1C)(b), if the inspector on reasonable grounds believes that the purpose for which the entry and inspection is sought, is likely to be defeated by a delay, as closely to ordinary business hours as the circumstances reasonably permit;

(b) on reasonable notice, where appropriate;

(i) dignity;

(ii) freedom and security;

(iii) privacy; and

(iv) other constitutional rights; and

(d) with strict regard to decency and good order as the circumstances require, in particular by—

(i) entering and inspecting only such areas or objects as are reasonably required for purposes of section 45B(2);

(ii) conducting the inspection discreetly and with due decorum;

(iii) causing as little disturbance as possible; and

(iv) concluding the inspection as soon as possible.

[S 45B(1D) inserted by s 32(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(1E) Subsection (1D)(c) and (d) apply with the necessary changes where an inspector enters and inspects premises on the authority of a warrant issued under subsection (1B).

[S 45B(1E) inserted by s 32(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(2) An inspector, in conducting an inspection, may—

(a) in writing direct a person to appear for questioning before the inspector at a time and place determined by the inspector;

(b) order any person who has or had any document in his, her or its possession or under his, her or its control relating to the affairs of the accountable institution, reporting institution or person—

(i) to produce that document; or

(ii) to furnish the inspector at the place and in the manner determined by the inspector with information in respect of that document;

(c) open any strongroom, safe or other container, or order any person to open any strongroom, safe or other container, in which the inspector suspects any document relevant to the inspection is kept;

(d) use any computer system or equipment on the premises or require reasonable assistance from any person on the premises to use that computer system to—

(i) access any data contained in or available to that computer system; and

(ii) reproduce any document from that data;

(e) examine or make extracts from or copy any document in the possession of an accountable institution, reporting institution or person or, against the issue of a receipt, remove that document temporarily for that purpose; and

(f) against the issue of a receipt, seize any document obtained in terms of paragraphs (c) to (e), which in the opinion of the inspector may constitute evidence of non-compliance with a provision of this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act.

(2A) When acting in terms of subsection (2)(b) or (d), an inspector of—

(a) the Centre;

(b) a supervisory body referred to in item 1 or 2 of Schedule 2; or

may order from an accountable institution or reporting institution under inspection, the production of a copy of a report, or the furnishing of a fact or information related to the report, contemplated in section 29.

[S 45B(2A) inserted by s 32(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(2B) If the inspector of a supervisory body, referred to in subsection (2A)(b) or (c), obtained a report, or a fact or information related to the report, under subsection (2A), that supervisory body must request information from the Centre under section 40(1C) relating to the report contemplated in section 29 which may be relevant to such inspection.

[S 45B(2B) inserted by s 32(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(2C) For purposes of subsection (2B), the Centre must provide the information to the inspector of the supervisory body in accordance with section 40.

[S 45B(2C) inserted by s 32(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3) An accountable institution, reporting institution or other person to whom this Act applies, must without delay provide reasonable assistance to an inspector acting in terms of subsection (2).

(4) The Centre or a supervisory body may recover all expenses necessarily incurred in conducting an inspection from an accountable institution or reporting institution inspected.

[S 45B(4) substituted by s 32(d) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(5)

(a) Subject to section 36 and paragraph (b), an inspector may not disclose to any person not in the service of the Centre or supervisory body any information obtained in the performance of functions under this Act.

(b) An inspector may disclose information—

(i) for the purpose of enforcing compliance with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act;

(ii) for the purpose of legal proceedings;

(iii) when required to do so by a court; or

(iv) except information contemplated in subsections (2A) and (2C), if the Director or supervisory body is satisfied that it is in the public interest.

[S 45B(5)(b)(iv) substituted by s 32(e) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(6)

(a) An inspector appointed by the Director may, in respect of any accountable institution regulated or supervised by a supervisory body in terms of this Act or any other law, conduct an inspection only if a supervisory body failed to conduct an inspection despite any recommendation of the Centre made in terms of section 44(b) or failed to conduct an inspection within the period recommended by the Centre.

(b) ...

[S 45B(6)(b) repealed by s 32(f) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(c) An inspector appointed by the Director may on the request of a supervisory body accompany and assist an inspector appointed by the head of a supervisory body in conducting an inspection in terms of this section.

(7) ...

[S 45B(7) repealed by s 32(g) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

[S 45B inserted by s 16(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

45C. Administrative sanctions

(1) The Centre or a supervisory body may impose an administrative sanction on any accountable institution, reporting institution or other person to whom this Act applies when satisfied on available facts and information that the institution or person—

(a) has failed to comply with a provision of this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act;

(b) has failed to comply with a condition of a licence, registration, approval or authorisation issued or amended in accordance with section 45(1B)(e);

(d) has failed to comply with a non-financial administrative sanction imposed in terms of this section.

(2) When determining an appropriate administrative sanction, the Centre or the supervisory body must consider the following factors—

(a) The nature, duration, seriousness and extent of the relevant non-compliance;

(b) whether the institution or person has previously failed to comply with any law;

(d) any steps taken or to be taken against the institution or person by—

(i) another supervisory body; or

(ii) a voluntary association of which the institution or person is a member; and

(e) any other relevant factor, including mitigating factors.

(3) The Centre or supervisory body may impose any one or more of the following administrative sanctions—

(a) A caution not to repeat the conduct which led to the non-compliance referred to in subsection (1);

(b) a reprimand;

(d) the restriction or suspension of certain specified business activities; or

(e) a financial penalty not exceeding R10 million in respect of natural persons and R50 million in respect of any legal person.

(4) The Centre or supervisory body may—

(a) in addition to the imposition of an administrative sanction, make recommendations to the relevant institution or person in respect of compliance with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act;

(b) direct that a financial penalty must be paid by a natural person or persons for whose actions the relevant institution is accountable in law, if that person or persons was or were personally responsible for the non-compliance;

(c) suspend any part of an administrative sanction on any condition the Centre or the supervisory body deems appropriate for a period not exceeding five years.

(5) Before imposing an administrative sanction, the Centre or supervisory body must give the institution or person reasonable notice in writing—

(a) of the nature of the alleged non-compliance;

(b) of the intention to impose an administrative sanction;

(d) that the institution or person may, in writing, within a period specified in the notice, make representations as to why the administrative sanction should not be imposed.

(6)

(a) After considering any representations and the factors referred to in subsection (2), the Centre, subject to paragraph (c), or supervisory body may impose an administrative sanction the Centre or supervisory body considers appropriate.

(b) Upon imposing the administrative sanction the Centre or supervisory body must, in writing, notify the institution or person—

(i) of the decision and the reasons therefor; and

(ii) of the right to appeal against the decision in accordance with section 45D.

(c) The Centre must, prior to taking a decision contemplated in paragraph (a), consult the relevant supervisory body, if applicable.

(7)

(a) Any financial penalty imposed must be paid into the National Revenue Fund within the period and in the manner as may be specified in the relevant notice.

[S 45C(7)(a) substituted by s 33 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(b) If the institution or person fails to pay the financial penalty within the specified period and an appeal has not been lodged within the required period, the Centre or supervisory body may forthwith file with the clerk or registrar of a competent court a certified copy of the notice contemplated in subsection (6)(b), and the notice thereupon has the effect of a civil judgment lawfully given in that court in favour of the Centre or supervisory body.

(8) An administrative sanction contemplated in this section may not be imposed if the respondent has been charged with a criminal offence in respect of the same set of facts.

(9) If a court assesses the penalty to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence in terms of this Act, the court must take into account any administrative sanction imposed under this section in respect of the same set of facts.

(10) An administrative sanction imposed in terms of this Act does not constitute a previous conviction as contemplated in Chapter 27 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977).

(11) Unless the Director or supervisory body is of the opinion that there are exceptional circumstances present that justify the preservation of the confidentiality of a decision the Director or supervisory body must make public the decision and the nature of any sanction imposed if—

(a) an institution or person does not appeal against a decision of the Centre or supervisory body within the required period; or

(b) the appeal board confirms the decision of the Centre or supervisory body.

[S 45C inserted by s 16(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

45D. Appeal

(1)

(a) Any institution or person may appeal against a decision of the Centre or supervisory body made in terms of section 45C(6) to the appeal board.

(b) An appeal must be lodged within 30 days in the manner, and on payment of the fees, prescribed by the Minister.

(c) The appeal board may, on good cause shown, grant condonation to an appellant who has failed to lodge an appeal timeously as provided for in paragraph (b).

[S 45D(1)(c) inserted by s 34(a) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(2) An appeal under subsection (1) shall take place on the date and at the place and time determined by the appeal board.

(3) An appeal is decided on the written evidence, factual information and documentation submitted to the Centre or the supervisory body before the decision which is subject to the appeal was taken.

[S 45D(3) substituted by s 34(b) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3A) Subject to subsection (4), no oral or written evidence or factual information and documentation, other than that which was available to the Centre or supervisory body and the written reasons for the decision of the Centre or the supervisory body, may be submitted to the appeal board by a party to the appeal.

[S 45D(3A) inserted by s 34(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3B) Despite subsection (3), the chairperson of the appeal board may on application by—

(a) the appellant concerned, and on good cause shown, allow further oral and written evidence or factual information and documentation not made available to the Centre or the supervisory body prior to the making of the decision against which the appeal is lodged; or

(b) the Centre or the supervisory body concerned, and on good cause shown, allow further oral and written evidence or factual information and documentation to be submitted and introduced into the record of the appeal.

[S 45D(3B) inserted by s 34(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3C) If introduction by an appellant of further oral and written evidence or factual documentation is allowed into the record of the appeal under subsection (3B)(a), the matter must be submitted to the Centre or the supervisory body in question for reconsideration.

[S 45D(3C) inserted by s 34(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3D) When an appeal is submitted to the Centre or a supervisory body as contemplated in subsection (3C), the appeal is deferred pending the final decision of the Centre or the supervisory body.

[S 45D(3D) inserted by s 34(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(3E) If, after the Centre or the supervisory body concerned has made a final decision as contemplated in subsection (3D), the appellant continues with the appeal by giving written notice to the appeal board, the record must include the further oral evidence properly transcribed, the written evidence or factual information or documentation allowed, and the further reasons or documentation submitted by the Centre or the supervisory body concerned.

[S 45D(3E) inserted by s 34(c) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(4) For the purposes of allowing further oral evidence in terms of subsection (3B) the appeal board may—

[S 45D(4), words preceding (a), substituted by s 34(d) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(a) summon any person who, in its opinion, may be able to give information for the purposes of the appeal or who it believes has in his, her or its possession, custody or control any document which has any bearing upon the decision under appeal, to appear before it at a time and place specified in the summons, to be questioned or to produce that document, and retain for examination any document so produced;

(b) administer an oath to or accept an affirmation from any person called as a witness at an appeal; and

(c) call any person present at the appeal proceedings as a witness and interrogate such person and require such person to produce any document in his, her or its possession, custody or control, and such a person shall be entitled to legal representation at his or her own expense.

(5) The chairperson of the appeal board determines the rules of the appeal and any other procedural matters relating to an appeal.

[S 45D(5) substituted by s 34(e) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(6) Any party to an appeal is entitled to be represented at an appeal by a legal representative.

(6A) The chairperson of the appeal board manages the case load of the appeal board and must assign each appeal to an adjudication panel comprising of not less than three members of the appeal board.

[S 45D(6A) inserted by s 34(f) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(6B) The chairperson of the appeal board appoints a chairperson of an adjudication panel who presides over the proceedings of that panel and that chairperson has a deciding vote in the case of an equality of votes.

[S 45D(6B) inserted by s 34(f) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(7) The appeal board may—

(a) confirm, set aside or vary the relevant decision of the Centre or supervisory body; or

(b) refer a matter back for consideration or reconsideration by the Centre or the supervisory body concerned in accordance with the directions of the appeal board.

(8) The decision of a majority of the members of an adjudication panel shall be the decision of the appeal board.

[S 45D(8) substituted by s 34(g) of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 13 June 2017.]

(9) The decision of the appeal board must be in writing, and a copy thereof must be made available to the appellant and the Centre or supervisory body.

(10)

(a) If the appeal board sets aside any decision of the Centre or supervisory body, the fees contemplated in subsection (1)(b) paid by the appellant in respect of the appeal in question must be refunded to the appellant.

(b) If the appeal board varies any such decision, it may in its discretion direct that the whole or any part of such fees be refunded to the appellant.

(11)

(a) Subject to paragraph (b), a decision of the appeal board may be taken on appeal to the High Court as if it were a decision of a magistrate in a civil matter.

(b) The launching of appeal proceedings in terms of paragraph (a) does not suspend the operation or execution of a decision, unless the chairperson of the appeal board directs otherwise.

[S 45D inserted by s 16(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

45E. Establishment of appeal board

(1) An appeal board is hereby established.

(2) The members of the Financial Sector Tribunal established in terms of section 219 of the Financial Sector Regulation Act, 2017, and appointed in terms of section 220 of that Act, are the members of the appeal board.

[S 45E(2) substituted by s 290 of Act 9 of 2017 with effect from 7 May 2018.]

(3) Proceedings before the appeal board are to be conducted and determined in accordance with this Act.

[S 45E(3) substituted by s 290 of Act 9 of 2017 with effect from 7 May 2018.]

(4) – (11) …

[S 45E(4) to (11) repealed by s 290 of Act 9 of 2017 with effect from 7 May 2018.]

(12) The Centre must provide administrative support for the appeal board.

(13) …

[S 45E(13) repealed by s 290 of Act 9 of 2017 with effect from 7 May 2018.]

[S 45E inserted by s 16(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

45F. Application to court

(1)

(a) The Centre, in respect of any accountable institution regulated or supervised by a supervisory body in terms of this Act or any other law, may institute proceedings in accordance with this section only if a supervisory body failed to institute proceedings despite any recommendation of the Centre made in terms of section 44(b) or failed to institute proceedings within the period recommended by the Centre.

(b) A supervisory body may institute proceedings in accordance with this section only after consultation with the Centre on that application to court.

(2) Subject to subsection (1), the Centre or any supervisory body may institute proceedings in the High Court having jurisdiction against any accountable institution, reporting institution or person to whom this Act applies, to—

(a) discharge any obligation imposed on the Centre or supervisory body in terms of this Act;

(b) compel that institution or person to comply with any provision of this Act or to cease contravening a provision of this Act;

(c) compel that institution or person to comply with a directive issued by the Centre or supervisory body under this Act; or

(d) obtain a declaratory order against that institution or person on any point of law relating to any provision of this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act.

(3) Subject to subsection (1), if the Centre or a supervisory body has reason to believe that an institution or person is not complying with this Act or any order, determination or directive made in terms of this Act, it may, if it appears that prejudice has occurred or might occur as a result of such non-compliance, apply to a court having jurisdiction for—

(a) an order restraining that institution or person from continuing business pending an application to court by the Centre or supervisory body as contemplated in subsection (2); or

(b) any other legal remedy available to the Centre or supervisory body.

[S 45F inserted by s 16(b) of Act 11 of 2008.]

46. Failure to identify persons

(1) An accountable institution that performs any act to give effect to a business relationship or single transaction in contravention of section 21(1) or (1A) is non-compliant and is subject to an administrative sanction.

[S 46(1) commencement: 30 June 2003.]

(2) An accountable institution that concludes any transaction in contravention of section 21(2) is non-compliant and is subject to an administrative sanction.

[S 46 substituted by s 35 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 46(2) commencement: 1 July 2004.]

46A. Failure to comply with duty in regard to customer due diligence

An accountable institution that fails to comply with the duty to perform additional due diligence measures in accordance with section 21A, 21B, 21C, 21D, 21E, 21F, 21G or 21H is non-compliant and is subject to an administrative sanction.

[S 46A inserted by s 36 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

47. Failure to keep records

An accountable institution that fails to—

(a) keep a record of information in terms of section 22(1), or 22A(1) or (2);

(b) keep such records in accordance with section 23 or 24(1); or

is non-compliant and is subject to an administrative sanction.

[S 47 substituted by s 37 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 47 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

48. Destroying or tampering with records

Any person who wilfully tampers with a record kept in terms of section 22 or section 24(1), or wilfully destroys such a record, otherwise than in accordance with section 23, is guilty of an offence.

[S 48 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

49. Failure to give assistance

An accountable institution that fails to give assistance to a representative of the Centre in accordance with section 27A(5), is guilty of an offence.

[S 49 substituted by s 38 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 2 October 2017.]

[S 49 commencement: 30 June 2003.]

49A. Contravention of prohibitions relating to persons and entities identified by Security Council of United Nations

(1) Any person who contravenes a provision of section 26B is guilty of an offence.

[S 49A inserted by s 39 of Act 1 of 2017 with effect from 1 April 2019, renumbered by s 40 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

(2) An accountable institution, reporting institution or any other person that fails to comply with a provision of section 26B is non-compliant and is subject to an administrative sanction.

[S 49A(2) inserted by s 40 of Act 22 of 2022 with effect from 31 December 2022.]

50. Failure to advise Centre of client