Financial Sector Conduct Authority v Financial Services Tribunal and Others (009838/2023) [2025] ZAGPPHC 675 (9 July 2025)

Financial Sector Conduct Authority v Financial Services Tribunal and Others (009838/2023) [2025] ZAGPPHC 675 (9 July 2025)

The court held that the FSCA may impose administrative penalties on peregrini under section 167 of the Financial Sector Regulation Act where the requirements of the section are satisfied and there is a sufficiently close connection between the conduct and South Africa. The court found that service of notice by any...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2025] ZAGPPHC 675
Parties
Applicant: The Financial Sector Conduct Authority; Respondent: The Financial Services Tribunal; Respondent: Louis Harms N.O.; Respondent: Jay Pema N.O.; Respondent: Michelle Le Roux N.O.; Respondent: Viceroy Research Partnership LLC; Respondent: Fraser John Perring; Respondent: Aiden Lau; Respondent: Gabriel Bernarde
Court
North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria
Jurisdiction
South Africa
Case Number
009838/2023
Procedural Posture
Review Application / High Court Review of Tribunal Decision
Outcome
Application granted. The common law is developed to permit jurisdiction over peregrini where notice of penalty is delivered by any means and there is a close connection to South Africa.
Judges
N Janse Van Nieuwenhuizen
Legal Topics
Financial Sector Regulation Act, Jurisdiction Over Peregrini, Administrative Penalties, Service of Process, Development of Common Law
Administrative Law Banking and Finance Financial Sector Regulation Act Jurisdiction Over Peregrini Administrative Penalties Service of Process Development of Common Law

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Parties

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority

Applicant

The Financial Services Tribunal

Respondent

Louis Harms N.O.

Respondent

Jay Pema N.O.

Respondent

Michelle Le Roux N.O.

Respondent

Viceroy Research Partnership LLC

Respondent

Fraser John Perring

Respondent

Aiden Lau

Respondent

Gabriel Bernarde

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Review Application / High Court Review of Tribunal Decision

  1. 1 Whether the FSCA has jurisdiction to impose administrative penalties on peregrini under section 167 of the Financial Sector Regulation Act.
  2. 2 Whether service of notice by electronic means suffices to establish jurisdiction over peregrini.
  3. 3 Whether the common law should be developed to adapt jurisdictional rules to modern digital realities.

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the FSCA may impose administrative penalties on peregrini under section 167 of the Financial Sector Regulation Act where the requirements of the section are satisfied and there is a sufficiently close connection between the conduct and South Africa. The court found that service of notice by any means, including electronic means, is sufficient to establish jurisdiction over peregrini for regulatory purposes. The common law was developed to reflect modern digital realities and the public interest in regulating cross-border financial misconduct. The majority decision of the Tribunal was set aside, and the matter was remitted for reconsideration. Costs were awarded to the...

Court Disposition

Application granted. The common law is developed to permit jurisdiction over peregrini where notice of penalty is delivered by any means and there is a close connection to South Africa.

Orders

  • It is declared that the applicant may impose an administrative penalty in terms of section 167 of the Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017 on a peregrinus where the requirements of section 167 are satisfied and notice of intention to impose the penalty was delivered by any means, including electronic means, and...
  • The majority decision of the first respondent is set aside.