EXPLAINER – SA banks And Competition Commission To Show Off In Court Over Rand Manipulation Case

Loading player...
Guest – Kabelo Khumalo – Companies and markets editor at Businessday

Banks to tell top court of reputational harm over rand-fixing probe

SA banking majors FirstRand and Standard Bank will next week tell the Constitutional Court of the high financial and reputational costs they have incurred over the Competition Commission’s allegations they formed part of a banking cartel to manipulate the rand.

The two banks stand accused of participating in a global conspiracy involving 28 foreign and local banks, allegedly colluding to fix and divide markets’ rand-dollar trading in 2007-13 — for their benefit.

The antitrust watchdog is seeking fines of up to 10% of their local revenues, citing the wide-ranging effects their conduct has had on the economy in a battle that dates back to 2015.
12 Aug 2025 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

PPS Delivers R6.88bn in Profit‑Share

PPS Group CEO Izak Smit unpacks a second consecutive record year, with R6.88bn allocated to members and R6.67bn paid in claims. He explains the strength of the mutual model.
22 Apr 4PM 16 min

Capitec’s R16.8bn Year

Capitec CEO Graham Lee discusses the bank’s 23% earnings surge, its diversified business model, and the rapid rise of digital payments.
22 Apr 4PM 14 min

Inflation Through the Eyes of the Consumer

Eighty20 Director Andrew Fulton translates the CPI numbers into real‑world household pressure. From meat‑led food inflation to the looming oil shock, he explores which consumers are most exposed and how spending behaviour is shifting.
22 Apr 4PM 9 min

SA’s Draft AI Policy: The Cost of Getting It Wrong

Free SA spokesperson Gideon Joubert discusses the organization's concerns about South Africa’s Draft National AI Policy—including expanded bureaucracy, duplicated institutions, and barriers for startups.
21 Apr 4PM 5 min