Fundamentals Of The South African Financial System

A reference and guide for commerce students, public servants and the business fraternity, giving an overview of how the various institutions in the South African financial system operate as well as of the different financial markets in the economy and the instruments traded in those markets.

This guide outlines the essential features orf the South African financial sector. Written by executives of prominent financial institutions, it provides the reader with first-hand accounts of operations in various financial markets, covering the elements of the financial system, its institutions, markets, and instruments, and monetary policy.

The implementation of a twin peaks model represents a significant change to the South African financial supervisory architecture. The Prudential Authority (PA), operating within the administration of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), is responsible for promoting and enhancing the safety and soundness of financial institutions that provide financial products and securities services. A separate authority, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority2 (FSCA), is responsible for market conduct regulation and supervision. The introduction of the twin peaks architecture was motivated by a need to increase the robustness of the financial sector regulatory and supervisory system, reinforce financial stability, improve protection of customers, and enhance cooperation among the regulators.

This paper discusses the Financial System Stability Assessment for South Africa, and reviews the Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes on Securities Regulation. The assessment reveals that South Africa’s sophisticated financial system is fundamentally sound and has so far weathered the global financial market turmoil without major pressures. Banks and insurance companies have enjoyed good profitability, capitalization levels, and reserves. The financial sector regulatory framework is modern and generally effective. Stress tests suggest that capital and reserve cushions at banks and insurance companies are sufficient to absorb large shocks.