{
  "id": 12529476,
  "title": "Anti-terror rules should not target crèches",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/anti-terror-rules-should-not-target-creches",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T03:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GroundUp",
    "slug": "groundup",
    "url": "https://groundup.org.za/article/anti-terror-rules-should-not-target-creches/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Africa's efforts to comply with international anti-terror financing rules may inadvertently create difficulties for non-profit organisations (NPOs). The General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill aims to keep the country off the Financial Action Task Force's grey list. This list identifies countries with deficiencies in anti-money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing controls. The new rules target NPOs, which are often trusted and work in conflict areas, potentially making them a channel for terrorist money. However, the bill's registration duty and enforcement powers are not explicitly tied to the risk assessment of NPOs. If an NPO fails to comply with a compliance notice, it risks losing registration, which can be devastating for funding and operations. The bill also imposes a blanket maximum fine for offences, regardless of risk or intent. This could discourage volunteer-run organisations from serving on boards and limit their capacity to respond to problems. The NPO Working Group has proposed amendments to ensure the enforcement scheme is proportionate and risk-based, including stricter requirements for registration offences and linking penalties to the amount gained.",
  "summary": "Anti-money laundering Bill may fail the international test it was written to pass",
  "key_points": [
    "Proposed amendments aim to make enforcement proportionate and risk-based.",
    "Registration offences to have stricter requirements and penalties linked to amount gained.",
    "NPOs often trusted in conflict areas, potential channel for terrorist money."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The proposed anti-terror financing rules may disproportionately harm non-profit organisations, particularly volunteer-run ones, by imposing blanket fines and rigid registration duties that aren't tied to actual risk assessments.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}