Why do you have to declare that you are a prominent person or related to one?

The Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) requires that you let Mesh know if you are a prominent influential person. The act differentiates between a domestic prominent influential person (DPIP), foreign prominent public official (FPIP) and a known close associate or family member of either. The same person can also have multiple statuses apply to them. 



What is a Domestic Prominent Influential Person?
This is an individual who holds a prominent public function in South Africa, including in an acting position for more than 6 months or any time in the preceding 12 months. 


Public functions include:

  • President or Deputy President
  • Government minister or deputy minister
  • Premier of a province
  • Executive council member of a province
  • Executive mayor of a municipality
  • Leader of a political party
  • Member of a royal family or senior traditional leader
  • Head, accounting officer or chief financial officer of a national or provincial department or government component
  • Municipal manager or chief financial officer of a municipality
  • Chairperson of the controlling body, chief executive officer, chief financial officer or chief investment officer of a municipal entity
  • Constitutional court judge or any other judge
  • Ambassador or high commissioner or other senior representative of a government based in South Africa
  • Officer of the South African National Defence Force above the rank of major-general


Positions include:

  • Chairperson of the board of directors
  • Chairperson of the audit committee
  • Executive officer
  • Chief financial officer of a company that provides goods or services to a state organ above a Gazetted annual transactional amount.


What is a Foreign Prominent Influential Person?

This is an individual who holds or has held in the preceding 12 months, a prominent public function in any foreign country, including: 

  • Head of state or head of a country or government
  • Member of a foreign royal family
  • Government minister or equivalent senior politician or leader of a political party
  • Senior judicial official
  • Senior executive of a state-owned corporation
  • High ranking member of the military
  • Family members and known associates of domestic and foreign influential persons (close associates are individuals who are closely connected to a FPIP)


Who are immediate family members?

  • Spouse, civil partner or life partner
  • Previous spouse, civil partner or life partner
  • Children and stepchildren, their spouses, civil partners or life partners
  • Parents
  • Siblings and step-siblings, their spouses, civil partners or life partners