05 March 2025
PRESS RELEASE
NO EMBARGO
Al Jama-ah’s leader urges Non-Profit Organisations to work with government to get South Africa out of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey list
South Africa is working hard to exit the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s grey list before the end of 2025, says Al Jama-ah’s leader and Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hon Ganief Hendricks.
Hendricks is calling on Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and the civil society sector to assist government with achieving this goal. He made the call on the first of a three-day multi-stakeholder engagement from 2 – 4 March 2025, in Kempton Park, Johannesburg convened by the Department of Social Development.
The department has consulted the sector on the implementation of FATF Recommendation 8, which aims to protect NPOs from potential “terrorist” financing and money laundering abuse. Hendricks cautioned government against using legislation to stifle operations of legitimate NPOs that play a vital role in communities throughout the country.
“Our national development plan (NDP, Vision 2030) calls for active citizenry especially from the grassroots level. We must therefore guard against overburdening and frustrating grassroots initiatives using legislation. The objective of the NPO Act is to create an enabling legislative environment for the NPO sector to thrive and contribute to our national development agenda,” said Hendricks.
He was supported by representatives from Kagiso Trust, Afrika Tikkun, Thuthuka Foundation, The Grail Centre Trust and Chartered Institute for Business Accountants (CIBA). These NPOs have expressed concerns about “over regulating” the sector. Al Jama-ah categorically rejects any allegations made by a Jewish “human rights” lawyer that the Gift of the Givers donates money to groups blacklisted as terrorist organisations by the US government.
“NPOs are not here to carry out any agendas of those who support the Zionist Israeli entity. Resistance movements helped South Africa with its liberation struggle; they are not terrorist organisations,” said Hendricks.
Issued by Asghar Khan on behalf of Al Jama-ah
For media enquiries contact:
Nisa Hendricks (Media and Marketing Manager)
Cell: 082 613 1917
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