Draft General Laws (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill 2025 Published

Posted 20 January 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category FICA

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: National Treasury has published the draft General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill, 2025, for public comment. The draft Bill introduces expanded measures to strengthen South Africa’s regulatory framework against financial crimes.

In terms of Government Notice No. 6997 published in Government Gazette No. 53955 on 14 January 2026, the draft Bill serves as an updated iteration of the 2024 draft previously published under Notice No. 5683 in Government Gazette No. 51772. The revised version incorporates new provisions regarding the regulation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the implementation of lifestyle audits. These measures are intended to address remaining deficiencies identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and prepare for the upcoming Mutual Evaluation scheduled to commence in mid-2026.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend four primary statutes to align with international AML/CFT standards:

  • Trust Property Control Act, No. 57 of 1988;
  • Non-profit Organisations Act, No. 71 of 1997;
  • Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001; and
  • Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008.

The draft Bill was developed through a collaborative process involving the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, the Department of Social Development, the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), the Prudential Authority, and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). Stakeholders are invited to submit written comments on the proposed amendments by no later than 13 February 2026.

Click here to download the Draft General Laws (AML/CFT) Amendment Bill, 2025.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Professionals in high-risk sectors or those holding public-interest positions must prepare for potential lifestyle audits as part of enhanced transparency and anti-corruption measures.
  • For your business: Compliance officers must review and update internal AML/CFT policies to incorporate the expanded definitions and reporting requirements, particularly regarding beneficial ownership and NGO interactions.
  • For your clients: Non-profit organisations and corporate entities will face stricter registration and disclosure requirements; clients should be advised to conduct internal audits of their beneficial ownership registers before the 13 February 2026 comment deadline.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/nt-fic-draft-general-laws-aml-cft-amendment-bill-2025

The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Acts Online. Acts Online accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the article, nor does the information contained herein constitute advice, legal or otherwise.