Webber Wentzel The Legal Lens Podcast

South Africa’s removal from the FATF grey list in October 2025 marked a significant turning point in the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime.

But with the action plan largely complete, the focus is now shifting.

In this episode of The Legal Lens, Lerato Lamola and Kirsten Wolmarans explore what comes next and how the regulatory conversation is evolving from building compliance frameworks to testing how those frameworks operate in practice.

The discussion unpacks:

• The transition from greylisting to delisting and what it signals for the financial system

• The shift from technical compliance to demonstrable effectiveness

• The emerging gap between policy and real-world decision-making

• Why enforcement outcomes remain slower than expected

• Where even sophisticated organisations are falling short in practice

• The move towards defensible decision-making and institutional resilience

As South Africa enters a new FATF evaluation cycle, the key question is no longer whether frameworks exist, but whether they consistently influence behaviour and withstand scrutiny.

For businesses, compliance is no longer just about systems and controls — it is about how decisions are made, documented, and justified in real time. YouTube

White collar crime in Africa is no longer a localised or purely compliance-driven issue. It is increasingly cross border, more complex, and more consequential for businesses operating across the continent.

In this episode of The Legal Lens, Lionel van Tonder, Garth Duncan and Brittany Leroni unpack how the landscape is evolving in practice — from the expansion of reporting obligations and enforcement trends to the realities of multi jurisdictional investigations, legal privilege, and whistleblower frameworks.

The discussion also explores a broader shift in approach. Compliance is no longer enough on its own. The focus is moving towards resilience — how organisations identify risk early, respond effectively, and navigate regulatory scrutiny with credibility.

This conversation coincides with the launch of our Guide to White Collar Crimes and Forensic Investigations in Key African Jurisdictions, developed with our relationship firms across the continent and grounded in real-world experience.

For businesses operating in Africa, the message is clear: white collar risk has become a strategic issue, and it needs to be managed accordingly. YouTube

Virtual asset regulation across Africa is entering a defining phase.

In this episode of The Legal Lens, Lerato Lamola and Anelisa Ndebele unpack how regulatory frameworks across Africa are evolving and what that means for businesses operating in the fintech and digital assets space.

Drawing on a comparative analysis of multiple jurisdictions, the discussion explores:

*The shift from informal caution to structured regulatory frameworks

Licensing regimes across jurisdictions such as South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique

*The central role of AML/CFT obligations in shaping regulation

*Key areas where regulation is still developing — including legal tender status and stablecoins

*Emerging trends in cross-border regulation and exchange control

What the next phase of implementation will look like across the continent

As adoption continues to grow, African regulators are moving towards a more coordinated, risk-based and innovation-aware approach to oversight.

For businesses in the virtual assets space, the key message is clear: regulatory compliance is no longer something to prepare for in the future — it is already here. YouTube

Arbitration across Africa is evolving rapidly and is increasingly becoming the preferred mechanism for resolving complex cross-border disputes.

In this episode of The Legal Lens, Chandni Gopal and Erin Warmington discuss key trends shaping international arbitration across the continent, drawing on insights from their recent publication.

This episode covers:

The growing momentum of arbitration across African jurisdictions

The role of courts in supporting arbitration proceedings

Emerging opportunities, including ESG-related disputes and infrastructure projects

As arbitration frameworks strengthen and cross-border investment continues to grow, Africa is positioning itself as a credible and increasingly attractive arbitration landscape. YouTube

In this episode of The Legal Lens, we unpack a major shift in the enforcement of pension and retirement fund contribution obligations in South Africa. Following the withdrawal of a long standing exemption under the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) and the introduction of proposed amendments in the Draft Employment Laws Amendment Bill, employers are entering a new enforcement era with heightened regulatory scrutiny.

The discussion explores how the two pot retirement system exposed widespread non compliance, why labour inspectors can now actively enforce pension fund contributions, and what a dual enforcement regime involving both the Department of Employment and Labour and the FSCA means for employers. The episode also examines the risk of personal liability for directors and officers, the implications of unannounced inspections, and the practical steps organisations should take now to mitigate risk.

This conversation is essential viewing for employers, board members, HR leaders and finance teams navigating retirement fund compliance, BCEA enforcement and evolving regulatory risk. YouTube