05/06/2026
⭐June Topic⭐
CHANGES IN SOUTH AFRICAN TRUST LAW
1️⃣The Beneficial Ownership Revolution
Following South Africa's intensive efforts to strengthen its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) frameworks, extensive amendments were introduced to the TPCA. These legislative changes significantly expanded the definition of a “beneficial owner”.
Trustees are now legally obligated to:
➡️Identify and verify the natural persons who ultimately own or control the trust property. This includes the founder, trustees, beneficiaries, and anyone who exercises ultimate effective control over the trust.
➡️Keep an up-to-date register of these details, including official identification, residential addresses, and exact dates of when ownership began or ended.
➡️Lodge this information with the Master of the High Court through their electronic systems.
🔺The stakes for non-compliance are severe. Trustees who fail to maintain and disclose this information face potential fines of up to R10 million, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.
# AntiMoneyLaundering