Last reviewed: 4 June 2026.
Why verification may be required
Property practitioners and estate-agency businesses in South Africa may have obligations under the Financial Intelligence Centre Act and related guidance. These obligations can require client due diligence, verification, record keeping, risk assessment, sanctions screening and reporting of suspicious or unusual activity.
When EstateConnect may ask for information
EstateConnect may request verification information before or during a mandate, sale, lease, rental-management instruction, investor conversation, development instruction or other property-service process. The exact records required depend on the parties, transaction type, legal status of the client and assessed risk.
Information that may be requested
For individuals, requested information may include identity details, contact details, residential address confirmation, authority to act and source-of-funds information where relevant. For companies, trusts, partnerships or other entities, EstateConnect may also request registration records, ownership and control information, representative authority and beneficial-owner details.
Beneficial ownership and representatives
Where a person acts for another individual or entity, EstateConnect may need to verify the representative's authority and identify the natural persons who ultimately own, control or benefit from the client or transaction.
Screening and reporting
EstateConnect may need to screen parties against applicable sanctions or risk information and may be legally required to report suspicious or unusual transactions to the Financial Intelligence Centre. Where reporting is legally required, EstateConnect may not be allowed to disclose that report to the affected party.
Secure document handling
Do not send FICA documents through the public enquiry form. EstateConnect should request sensitive verification records through a suitable secure process and should keep those records only for lawful purposes and required retention periods.
Official guidance
For current official guidance, visit the Financial Intelligence Centre. This page is a public explanation and does not replace transaction-specific legal or compliance advice.