MEC WARNS NPOS AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING RISKS

By James Moche

• MEC Basetsana Dantjie cautioned non-profit organisations to guard against being exploited by criminals who provide large sums of money and then demand NPOs redirect portions to suspicious accounts, warning they could face criminal charges.
• The Baphalane ba Mantserre Development Trust distributed R300,000 worth of blankets to over 500 elderly people and individuals with disabilities in Mantserre, demonstrating community solidarity as winter approaches.
• South Africa’s recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist in October 2025, following improvements in combating money laundering and terrorist financing, provides an important backdrop to the ongoing efforts to clean up the NPO sector through the de-registration of non-compliant organisations.

Northwest Social Development MEC Basetsana Dantjie has urged non-profit organisations to remain vigilant against exploitation by criminals during a community blanket drive in Mantserre, outside Rustenburg.

Speaking at the event organised by the Baphalane ba Mantserre Development Trust, MEC Dantjie addressed over 500 older persons and people with disabilities who received blankets valued at R300,000. She used the occasion to highlight the growing threat of money laundering schemes targeting financially vulnerable NPOs.

“Criminals exploit desperate non-profit organisations by providing them with millions, then ordering these NPOs to divert portions of these funds to suspicious accounts,” Dantjie explained to attendees at the Mantserre community hall. “I urge you to be vigilant; otherwise, you risk facing criminal charges for crimes like money laundering.”

Her warning comes amid the Department of Social Development’s ongoing campaign to de-register non-compliant NPOs nationwide. This initiative gained momentum after South Africa was placed on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist in 2023, primarily due to deficiencies in combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

The greylist designation prompted comprehensive regulatory reforms across multiple sectors. After implementing measures to strengthen financial controls and addressing 22 required action items, South Africa was successfully removed from the FATF grey list in October 2025.

Despite these serious concerns, MEC Dantjie praised the blanket distribution initiative as a meaningful way to restore dignity and provide comfort to vulnerable community members as winter approaches. She emphasised that such programs extend beyond physical warmth, representing acts of care and community solidarity that strengthen social bonds.