South Africa: White Collar Crime, Anti-Corruption & Fraud

South African law enforcement authorities conducted a major operation in Johannesburg's CBD, seizing over 1,700 counterfeit sports items worth more than R1.5 million just days before a high-profile Springboks versus New Zealand rugby match. The multi-agency raid uncovered not only fake merchandise bearing well-known sports brands but also manufacturing equipment, suggesting the premises served as both a production facility and distribution center for counterfeit goods.

A South African High Court has ruled on the lawfulness of account freezing by banks based on fraud suspicions and affirmed SARS's authority to issue third-party notices under section 179 of the Tax Administration Act. The case arose after a close corporation fraudulently claimed a VAT refund of R3.28 million, transferred R900,000 to an individual's account, prompting the bank to freeze the account and SARS to pursue recovery through a third-party notice.

South Africa's whistleblower protection framework is undergoing significant reform through the proposed Protected Disclosures Bill, 2026, which aims to address critical gaps exposed by high-profile assassinations and the Zondo Commission findings. The new legislation promises expanded protections, criminal sanctions for retaliation, and financial rewards for whistleblowers, but will the reforms be sufficient to encourage individuals to come forward in a climate where speaking up can cost lives?

Fraud remains one of the most pervasive and value-destroying risks facing South African organisations. Economic pressure, sophisticated fraud schemes...

Fraud and corruption levels have reached alarming levels in South Africa. No industry is immune to the scourge of fraud and corruption. In some sectors fraud and corruption pose significant threats...

In Mantashe v Justice Raymond Zondo N.O. and Another, the Johannesburg High Court reiterated the established peremptory requirements that must be satisfied...

Private sector contributions to government initiatives are on the rise in South Africa. In this article, we provide an overview of current public and private sector collaborations and examine the challenges...

Enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) held steady in 2024. The Department of Justice (DOJ) entered into FCPA settlements with eight companies...

South Africa's healthcare sector faces an unprecedented surge in fraudulent medico-legal claims, now totalling R30 billion in suspect cases under investigation by the Special Investigations Unit.