For financial markets to function effectively and with integrity there needs to be some foundation of legal certainty and regulations that reduce the possibility of systemic or institutional failure, fraud, market manipulation and the unfair treatment of investors, particularly retail investors.

This one-day workshop introduces the principal elements of the regulatory environment for South African financial markets. It outlines the respective objectives and roles of regulators, their supervisory approaches, the key concepts of authorisation, supervision and enforcement and the powers available to the regulators if a firm or an individual, breaches regulatory requirements. Major financial reforms such as those aimed at bringing over-the-counter derivatives trading under the oversight of regulators will be outlined. Regulatory changes proposed by international regulators and standard-setting bodies and domestic regulators will also be considered.

The workshop aims to assist financial market participants to practically manage regulatory change and oversee compliance risk.