
More arrests in Steinhoff saga as executives face justice
The arrest of two more former Steinhoff executives ties back to a fraudulent scheme involving a handwritten note by Markus Jooste.

The arrest of two more former Steinhoff executives ties back to a fraudulent scheme involving a handwritten note by Markus Jooste.

Meanwhile, MPs have questioned the SARB’s push to liquidate Ithala, arguing it conflicts with Parliament’s resolution to support the bank’s growth.

Stable growth and fiscal discipline could see South Africa’s credit rating rise two notches in the next three years.

Standard Bank’s compliance failures include the untimely submission of suspicious activity reports and neglecting system alerts.

Sava, a fintech startup backed by Access Bank South Africa, has received regulatory approval to launch a digital banking platform tailored to SMEs.

Ithala accuses the appointed repayment administrator of overstepping his authority, while the Prudential Authority moves to liquidate the entity.
The Prudential Authority’s push for Ithala’s provisional liquidation has brought the bank’s journey to an abrupt halt, leaving 257 000 depositors in limbo.

The bank’s Financial Stability Review also flags the growing financial distress among households and SMMEs and the vulnerabilities in the commercial real estate sector.

The SARB plans to continue enforcement action against Ibex Holdings, formerly Steinhoff, and other parties but may consider a settlement to resolve the matter.

Having reached the target of 4.5% with ‘little or no cost’, Lesetja Kganyago argues that South Africa can achieve permanently lower inflation and interest rates.

Stephanus Grobler, who is facing multiple charges including racketeering and fraud, is due to appear in court in February next year.

The fines on both banks run into millions of rands, but most of the penalties are conditionally suspended.

The Prudential Authority discovered the non-compliance during a routine inspection conducted four years ago.

The South African Reserve Bank’s inaugural Payments Study Report provides extensive insights into how the public perceives and uses various payment methods and instruments.

While Ithala remains operational for existing clients, the search for a new sponsor and regulatory hurdles pose significant challenges.

The non-compliance was discovered during inspections by the Prudential Authority in 2020 and 2022.

The bank also faces a R4.9bn claim arising from SARS’s alleged inability to collect taxes and penalties from former foreign exchange clients.