dtic Gazettes Retrospective Competition Act Merger Thresholds and Filing Fees
Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has gazetted amendments to the merger thresholds and filing fees under the Competition Act, No. 89 of 1998, taking effect retrospectively from 1 May 2026.
In terms of the Competition Act, No. 89 of 1998, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has officially gazetted significant amendments to South Africa’s merger thresholds and filing fees on behalf of the Competition Commission. These changes, which were initially released in draft form in January 2026 for public comment, came into force retrospectively on 1 May 2026.
The adjustments aim to reduce the regulatory burden on smaller transactions, allowing competition authorities to focus resources on high-impact, complex mergers. Transactions falling below the newly established thresholds will no longer require the same level of regulatory clearance, thereby streamlining the merger control process for small and medium enterprises.
Click here to download the official gazetted amendments.
What this means for you, your business, or your clients
- For yourself: Keep abreast of the updated merger thresholds and filing fees to ensure accurate advisory services on corporate transactions.
- For your business: Update internal compliance checklists and transaction advisory templates to reflect the new retrospective thresholds effective from 1 May 2026.
- For your clients: Advise clients planning mergers or acquisitions on whether their transactions still trigger mandatory notification requirements or qualify for relief under the revised thresholds.
Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/dtic-competition-act-amendments