Financial Intelligence Centre Act: Further Sections to Commence in July 2026

Posted 05 June 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Financial Intelligence Centre Act

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: In terms of a recently published presidential proclamation, four outstanding sections of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001 are scheduled to come into force on 1 July 2026.

The proclamation, published in the Government Gazette, determines the commencement date for specific provisions of the Act that had previously been left in abeyance. The activation of these four sections on 1 July 2026 is expected to bring the entire legislative framework of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, No. 38 of 2001, as amended, into full force and effect.

While the specific sections relate to outstanding administrative and compliance mechanisms under the Act, their commencement completes the long-term phased implementation of South Africa’s anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regulatory regime. This alignment is critical for South Africa’s ongoing efforts to address strategic deficiencies identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The phased implementation of these final provisions will primarily impact:

  • Accountable institutions: Entities listed under Schedule 1 of the Act must ensure full alignment of their Risk Management and Compliance Programmes (RMCPs) with the fully operationalised statutory requirements.
  • Supervisory bodies: Regulatory authorities will have complete statutory backing to enforce all administrative and compliance provisions of the Act.
  • Compliance officers: Professionals must review internal audit and reporting workflows to ensure no gaps exist once the final sections commence.

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

  • For yourself: No direct individual obligations; impact is channelled through firm-level compliance and your professional advisory duties to clients.
  • For your business: Assess your firm’s internal compliance frameworks and Risk Management and Compliance Programmes (RMCPs) to ensure full alignment with the complete statutory provisions of the Act ahead of the 1 July 2026 deadline.
  • For your clients: Advise clients operating as accountable institutions to audit their current FICA compliance structures and prepare for stricter regulatory oversight once the remaining provisions come into full effect.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/financial-intelligence-centre-act-more-sections-in-force-soon

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