Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has appointed Thabiso Lucas Thiti as the Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) for a five-year term, effective 15 April 2026, placing a seasoned intelligence operator at the head of the country’s anti-money laundering apparatus as it enters a critical phase of regulatory enforcement. According to an official statement from the National Treasury, Thiti succeeds Advocate Pieter Smit, who had served as acting director since September 2023.
Thiti assumes control of the centre following South Africa’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) greylist in October 2025, an exit achieved in under three years through coordinated reforms. However, as reported by the South African Government News Agency, the finance ministry has cautioned that the FATF is due to conduct a mutual evaluation later this year, which will test the effectiveness of the country’s investigations, prosecutions, and sanctions rather than merely the technical compliance demonstrated previously. A legal analysis by Baker McKenzie noted that while delisting restores financial credibility and eases cross-border friction for South African entities, the regulatory spotlight has shifted from catch-up reforms to demonstrating consistent, repeatable outcomes in combating illicit financial flows.
The new director brings more than 20 years of senior executive experience within the public sector, specifically within the justice cluster, national security, and intelligence operations. Thiti is currently the deputy director-general for institutional development and support at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, a role he has held since April 2023. His background includes a tenure as head of the Office of Interception at the State Security Agency from 2020 to 2023, as well as over a decade of prior service within the agency, where he was directly involved in strategy and coordination across the criminal justice system.
Godongwana has stressed that the FIC must sustain the momentum of the greylist exit to ensure the financial system remains trusted and globally competitive, noting that Thiti is stepping in at a pivotal time with the requisite skills to lead the institution. The finance minister also expressed gratitude to the outgoing acting director for his diligent stewardship during the interim period. Thiti’s academic credentials include a master’s degree in public and development management and a background in international relations, equipping him for a role that demands close cooperation between law enforcement and the private financial sector to maintain transparency and deter organised crime.