Dr Samantha Smith is STBB's chief Content Writer and Legal Editor, a position she has occupied since February 2024. Samantha graduated with a BSocSci, LLB, LLM, and PhD (Law) from the University of Cape Town. She brainstorms and writes all social media, newsflashes, newsletters, digital and print advertisements, magazine articles, webinar invitations, and podcast blurbs. Furthermore, Samantha creates tenders and proposals, legal updates and presentations, information sheets, content for special projects, and text for various other digital publications and communications. Additionally, she writes or edits biographies, and works on brochures, handouts, and other STBB collateral. Outside of her demanding role, Samantha is a passionate animal and environmental advocate whose comprehensive research has been praised by some of the world's leading animal law experts, including the planet's most published animal law scholar and an Acting Justice of South Africa's Constitutional Court.

Newsflash | Important notice: The FIC issues request for accountable institutions’ RMCPs

Earlier this week, the Financial Intelligence Centre (‘the FIC’) issued a notice advising accountable institutions of a general request to submit a copy of their current Risk Management and Compliance Programme (‘RMCP’) to it by close of business on Wednesday, 12th March 2025.

To prevent penalties and other administrative sanctions, it is imperative that affected institutions, including property practitioners, trust and company service providers, and attorneys, submit their current RMCPs to the FIC timeously.

Importantly, entities with branches – and different organisation IDs – must each submit an RMCP, irrespective of whether the document is identical to that of another branch.

Accountable institutions must submit their RMCPs electronically via the FIC’s goAML platform and are encouraged to check the message board daily and respond as instructed in the general request.

For sound legal assistance, direct all RMCP-related queries to compliance@stbb.co.za.

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