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- August in focus: trends, risks & training
August in focus: trends, risks & training
August brings a mix of global lessons and local challenges – from infrastructure extortion risks to reshaping compliance culture with digital tools. Here’s what’s worth your attention.
Competition Law
SCA: Even a handshake can be cartel conduct
In ‘Doorware CC v Mercury Fittings CC’ 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that even informal, unwritten agreements to carve up markets or clients contravene South Africa’s Competition Act. Read the full Fasken briefing here.
Why it matters:
You don’t need a contract to land in cartel territory. A casual “understanding” to divide customers or regions can be enough to trigger serious legal trouble.
Our competition law modules teach teams to spot risky conversations, escalate early, and understand why even informal deals can cross the line.
Global compliance trends
Tech is taking over compliance training – but culture still wins
PwC’s Global Compliance Survey 2025 found that 82% of organisations are using or planning to use technology for compliance training. Only 18% remain fully manual.
Why it matters:
Automation, tracking, and interactive e‑learning make compliance faster and easier. But as PwC points out:
Of the factors companies considered most important in creating a strong compliance culture, senior management sponsorship/‘tone at the top’ (55%), employee training and communication (48%), and coordination with compliance teams (37%) were ranked at the top.
In short: the tools matter, but culture matters more.
ELLO is a purpose‑built compliance training LMS. We’ve been bringing the “tone at the top” into every rollout with personalised messages from senior leaders, since 2000.
Being digital first, also means our e‑learning is customisable, engaging, and supported by managed training services, so you can modernise your compliance training without adding administrative burden.
Construction
Construction mafias halt R550 m project in Gauteng
Organised criminal groups, dubbed “construction mafias”, have forced the stoppage of a R550 million infrastructure project in Gauteng, using intimidation and extortion to demand shares of contracts or “protection” payments. Read more here.
Why it matters:
This isn’t just a law‑enforcement issue, it’s a compliance one. Since November 2024, hundreds of extortion cases have been tied to construction mafias targeting major projects. For businesses in infrastructure and construction, this raises serious risks around bribery, vendor integrity, and employee safety.
Our course Preventing Anti‑Competitive and Corrupt Conduct in the Workplace is built specifically for the construction industry. It tackles unique sector risks: collusion, bid‑rigging, corrupt practices, and equips teams with practical knowledge on competition law, tender processes, and anti‑bribery obligations.
Artificial Intelligence
Help set the tone for AI ethics training
We’re busy with a new course! AI ethics. AI and ethics. AI for ethics. Ethics for AI?! ,
Don’t worry, you’re in good hands. Our instructional designers and subject matter experts know how to build compliance training that works. But we believe the best courses are created with input from the people who will use them.
This short survey (about 5 minutes) is your chance to help shape how AI ethics is taught in the workplace, setting the tone for an important and rapidly evolving area of compliance.
Financial Crimes
FCA hits Barclays with £42M fine – lessons for South Africa
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has fined Barclays £42 million for failing to properly manage anti‑money‑laundering (AML) risks with high‑risk clients. Read more here.
Why it matters:
This isn’t about UK law. It’s about regulatory expectations worldwide. South African businesses handling high‑risk clients or transactions should take note.
Key lessons for training
Acting on red flags: Staff must feel confident to escalate suspicious activity—even when it involves high‑value clients.
High‑risk sectors: Precious metals, complex wealth management, and similar areas demand enhanced awareness of red flags.
Board accountability: Directors and executives need to understand their personal responsibilities for ensuring AML frameworks (like RMCPs) actually work.
Refresh AML and FICA training across the board, from frontline teams to the boardroom, so everyone knows how to identify risks, act fast, and meet regulator expectations.
Thanks for reading.
As always, if there’s something you’re grappling with, let us know. We’re happy to share what we’ve seen working elsewhere.
Stay warm, stay well, and we’ll see you next month.
The Compliance Online team