Select a location

This selection will switch the site from presenting information primarily about South Africa to information primarily about . If you would like to switch back, you may use location selection options at the top of the page.

Insights

COMESA Merger Control Reforms under the 2025 Regulations

The COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations, 2025 (2025 Regulations) read together with the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Rules, 2025 (2025 Rules) significantly recalibrate the regional merger control framework with immediate impact on dealmaking in COMESA Member States1.

Proposed amendments to South African Companies Act

The draft General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill [B-2025] proposes changes to the South African Companies Act, 2008 aimed at enhancing enforcement of obligations to file securities registers and registers of disclosure of beneficial interest with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).

South Africa proposes higher merger filing thresholds and increased merger filing fees

South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, acting in consultation with the Competition Commission (“Commission”), has published draft amendments to the merger filing thresholds (“Draft Threshold Notice”) as well as proposed inflation related increases to the filing fees payable in respect of notifiable transactions. The proposals are open for public comment for 30 business days from 27 January 2026 until 10 March 2026.

FSCA Update on Licensing and Supervision of Crypto Asset Service Providers

Key Developments The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has released an update on the licensing and supervision of Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002 (FAIS Act). Since the CASP licensing regime took effect on 1 June 2023, the FSCA has received 512 licence applications, of which 300 have been approved, 14 declined and 121 withdrawn following engagement with the regulator. The balance remains under review.