2021-04-13
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has issued an administrative sanction against AFS Capital CC for multiple contraventions of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, including failures in customer due diligence, employee training, and risk management compliance. The regulator imposed a caution against repeating the non-compliant conduct alongside a combined financial penalty of R20,000.00, which must be paid via electronic transfer by 15 February 2021. AFS Capital must submit proof of payment to the FSCA and retains the right to lodge an appeal with the FIC Act Appeal Board within thirty days of receiving this notice.
Transitional Management Committee: OB Makhubela (Commissioner) DP Tshidi JA Boyd LP Kekana K Gibson ENQUIRIES: Ms Pretty Tshuxeko Mathebula D. DIALLING NO.: (012) 367 7844 OUR REF: FSP 11043 FAX: DATE: 14/01/2021 E-MAIL: Pretty.mathebula@fsca.co.za Mr. Kobus Viljoen AFS Capital CC 45C Sovereign Drive Route 21 Corporate Park Irene X30 0157 By email: kobus@afscapital.co.za Dear Sir NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTION
2 2.2.1. AFS failed to comply with the requirements of Directive 02/2014. During the inspection it was noted that the AFS goAML login credentials were shared with the members of the accountable institution. 2.3. In terms of section 42A(1) the senior management of an accountable institution must ensure compliance by the accountable institution and its employees with the provisions of the FIC Act and its risk management and compliance programme (RMCP). 2.3.1. AFS failed to comply with section 42A(1) of the FIC Act, in that AFS senior management delegated this responsibility to the anti-money laundering compliance officer. 2.4. In terms of section 43 of the FIC Act, accountable institutions are required to provide ongoing training to its employees and senior management to enable them to comply with the provisions of the FIC Act and the RMCP. 2.4.1. AFS failed to comply with section 43 of the FIC Act, in that it was found that AFS’s employees and the senior management were not trained on the FIC Act and the RMCP. 2.5. In terms of section 20A to 21H of the FIC Act accountable institutions are required to perform customer due diligence in respect of its clients in terms of its RMCP. 2.5.1. AFS failed to comply with section 20A to 21H of the FIC Act, in that it AFS did not perform customer due diligence in line with its RMCP on two clients onboarded post 2 April 2019. 2.6. In terms of section 42(3) of the FIC Act an accountable institution is required to make the RMCP available to each employee involved in transactions to which the FIC Act applies. In terms of section 42(1) of the FIC Act, the accountable institutions are required to implement their RMCP. 2.6.1. AFS failed to comply with section 42(3) of the FIC Act, in that it was found during the inspection that the RMCP is not accessible to the AFS’s staff members.
3 3. Reasons for imposing the administrative sanction 3.1. The non-compliance as detailed above are serious contraventions of the provisions of the FIC Act; 3.2. The accountable institutions were given 18 months since the amendments to the FIC Act, to implement the revised provisions and AFS was found to be non-compliant after that given period; 3.3. There are no records that AFS has previously failed to comply with the provisions of the FIC Act; 3.4. AFS has since the inspection remediated the areas of non-compliance which were identified during the inspection; and 3.5. AFS has co-operated with the FSCA during the inspection. 4. Particulars of the administrative sanction: 4.1. In terms of section 45C(1), read with sections 45C(3), and 45C(6)(a) of the FIC Act, the FSCA hereby imposes the following administrative sanction on AFS: 4.1.1. A caution not to repeat the conduct which led to the non-compliance referred to in paragraph 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.6 above. 4.1.2. A financial penalty of R10, 000.00 for non-compliance with section 20A to 21H of the FIC Act, read with Guidance Note 7. 4.1.3. A financial penalty of R10, 000.00 for non-compliance with section 43 of the FIC Act. 4.2. AFS is directed to pay the financial penalty of R20,000.00 on or before 15 February 2021. 4.3. The financial penalty is payable via electronic fund transfer to: Account Name : NRF – FIC Act Sanctions Account Holder : National Treasury Account Number : 80552749 Bank : South African Reserve Bank Code : 910145 Reference : FIC Sanction – AFS Capital 4.4. Proof of payment must be submitted to the FSCA at pretty.mathebula@fsca.co.za and copy charl.geel@fsca.co.za
4 5. Right of appeal: 5.1. In terms of section 45D of the FIC Act, read with Regulation 27C of the Regulations promulgated in terms of GN R1595 in GG 24176 of 20 December 2002 as amended, AFS may lodge an appeal within 30 days, from the date of receipt of the Notice. The notice of appeal and proof of payment of the mandatory appeal fee must be-: 5.1.1. hand delivered to: The Secretary: The FIC Act Appeal Board Byls Bridge Office Park, Building 11 13 Candela Street Highveld Extension Centurion 5.1.2. sent via electronic mail to: The HOD: Office of General Counsel FSCA Attention: Mr S Rossouw (Stefanus.Rossouw@fsca.co.za ) 5.2. The Appeal Board secretary may be contacted at AppealBoardSecretariat@fic.gov.za and telephonically at (012) 641-6000 should AFS require further information regarding the appeal process. Details of the appeal process can also be found on the FIC’s website at www.fic.gov.za. 6. Failure to comply with the administrative sanction 6.1. In terms of section 45(C)(7)(b) of the FIC Act, should AFS fail to pay the prescribed financial penalty in accordance with this notice and an appeal has not been lodged within the prescribed period, the FSCA may forthwith file with the clerk or registrar of a competent court a certified copy of this notice, which shall thereupon have the effect of a civil judgement lawfully given in that court in favour of the FSCA.
5 7. Publication of sanction: 7.1. The FSCA will make public the decision and the nature of the sanction imposed in terms of section 45C(11) of the FIC Act. Yours faithfully
KEDIBONE DIKOKWE FOR THE FINANCIAL SECTOR CONDUCT AUTHORITY