Overview
- The FATF plenary in Paris delisted South Africa along with Nigeria, Mozambique and Burkina Faso after assessors confirmed sustained progress.
- FATF President Elisa de Anda Madrazo cautioned that delisting is not a shield against illicit finance and that jurisdictions remain under follow-up monitoring.
- South Africa reported completing 22 action items through enhanced financial intelligence and investigations, stronger beneficial ownership reporting, legislative changes, a traveller cash declaration system due to be mandatory by end‑2025, and extensive capacity building.
- National Treasury said the next FATF mutual evaluation will begin in the first half of 2026 and conclude in October 2027, with expectations for measurable outcomes such as investigations, prosecutions, sanctions and asset recovery.
- Markets and business groups welcomed the decision, with the rand strengthening and benchmark bond yields easing, while warning that ongoing enforcement is essential to sustain confidence.