The Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana, has in terms of section 8 of the Financial Intelligence Centre Act, appointed Mr Thabiso Lucas Thiti, as Director of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).
Mr Thiti’s appointment is for a period of five (5) years, effective on 15 April 2026.
Mr Thiti replaces Advocate Pieter Smit, who has been Acting FIC Director since September 2023. Minister Godongwana thanks Adv. Smit for his diligent stewardship during his tenure as Acting Director.
Mr Thiti’s appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process undertaken since 2025 that culminated in a selection panel chaired by Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi, recommending Mr Thiti as the preferred candidate.
Mr Thiti brings over 20 years of senior executive experience in public service spans the trade and industry advisory, the Justice Cluster, national security and intelligence operations, strategic management, and government leadership.
He is currently the Deputy Director General: Institutional Development and Support at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, a position he has held since April 2023.
He also served as Head of the Office of Interception at the State Security Agency (SSA), from 2020 to 2023. Prior to that, he held several senior roles within the SSA over an 11-year period from 2006 to 2018.
During this time, he was directly involved in strategy, operations, and coordination in the broader criminal justice system.
Minister Godongwana expects Mr Thiti to continue and deepen the vital work the FIC has done to combat illicit financial flows, organised crime, money laundering, and terrorism financing.
South Africa’s recent exit from the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) greylist provided a key test for the FIC and the ecosystem of law enforcement agencies and government bodies tasked with safeguarding the integrity of country’s financial system.
SA’s exit from the watch list, in less than three years, provided proof of the rapid reforms that can be achieved when regulators, policymakers, law-enforcement agencies and members of the financial sector cooperate to achieve a clear objective.
However, with a mutual evaluation by FATF due later this year, the country must continue to demonstrate progress in the effectiveness of investigations, prosecutions, and sanctions.
“Mr Thiti steps into this role at a pivotal time. We believe he has the requisite skill and experience to lead this critical institution. South Africa’s successful exit from the FATF greylist demonstrated the strength of collaboration between government, regulators, and the financial sector. Sustaining this momentum is paramount, and the FIC has a key role to play to ensure that South Africa’s financial system remains trusted, transparent, and globally competitive,” said Minister Godongwana.
Enquiries:
E-mail: Media@treasury.gov.za
#GovZAUpdates
