Can I Check AML PEP with VerifyNow in South Africa? (Guide)

Can I check AML PEP with VerifyNow? Yes—using VerifyNow, you can strengthen your FICA, KYC, and AML controls by screening customers and related parties for PEP (Politically Exposed Person) risk as part of a practical, business-friendly onboarding flow.

What “AML PEP checks” mean for General Business in South Africa

**What is a PEP and why it matters**

A PEP is a person who holds (or has held) a prominent public function, often associated with higher bribery and corruption risk. In South Africa, PEP screening is a key part of a risk-based AML programme because PEP relationships can increase exposure to:

Bribery and corruption risk
Money laundering typologies (layering through entities, third parties, etc.)
Reputational damage if a high-risk party is onboarded without controls
Regulatory scrutiny during audits or compliance reviews

Important compliance note
PEP screening is not a one-time tick-box. It’s part of ongoing due diligence—especially for higher-risk customers, directors, beneficial owners, and authorised signatories.

How PEP checks fit into FICA + KYC

For General Business, the practical approach is to embed PEP screening into your wider KYC process:

Identify the customer (individual or business)
Verify identity details and supporting information
Screen for PEP and sanctions-related risk indicators
Assess risk (low/medium/high) and apply controls
Monitor and refresh checks when risk changes

Useful official references for your compliance team:

Financial Intelligence Centre guidance and resources: fic.gov.za
POPIA guidance and responsible processing: popia.co.za
Data protection oversight and breach reporting info: inforegulator.org.za

Who should you screen in a business relationship?

Even if your customer is a company, you should consider screening relevant connected parties, such as:

Directors and members
Beneficial owners
Authorised signatories
Key controllers (where control is exercised indirectly)
High-risk suppliers or intermediaries (where relevant to your risk model)

A quick rule of thumb: if someone can control money, influence decisions, or benefit from transactions, they’re worth screening.

Can I check AML PEP with VerifyNow? Here’s how it works

VerifyNow’s AML PEP screening in your onboarding flow

Using VerifyNow’s platform, AML PEP checks can be integrated into your customer onboarding so your team isn’t jumping between tools or spreadsheets. The goal is simple: screen early, document clearly, and act consistently.

You can use VerifyNow to support:

FICA-aligned onboarding with structured checks
Risk-based decisioning (e.g., what happens when a match is found)
Audit-ready records for internal governance and external review
Faster customer experience without sacrificing compliance

Explore the platform here: VerifyNow

What happens when there’s a potential PEP match?

A PEP screening result typically falls into one of these outcomes:

No match: proceed with standard onboarding
Possible match: investigate (name similarity, DOB, jurisdiction, role)
Confirmed match: apply Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) and approval controls

A simple PEP match handling playbook (business-friendly)

When VerifyNow flags a possible match, your internal process should be consistent and documented:

Validate the match (reduce false positives with extra identifiers)
Classify the risk level (PEP type, role, proximity, geography)
Apply EDD where required (source of funds/wealth, purpose of relationship)
Approve via a designated senior person (document who approved and why)
Monitor the relationship (periodic rescreening / event-based checks)

Important compliance note
Don’t auto-reject every PEP. A PEP is a risk indicator, not proof of wrongdoing. The key is EDD + documented approvals.

PEP screening vs sanctions screening (don’t confuse them)

PEP screening is about increased corruption risk. Sanctions screening is about legal restrictions and prohibited dealings. Many businesses treat them together in a single workflow, but the decision rules can differ.

Check Type	What it indicates	Typical action
PEP	Higher AML corruption/bribery risk	Apply EDD, senior approval, monitoring
Sanctions	Potential legal prohibition	Escalate immediately, pause onboarding
Adverse media (if used)	Reputational/financial crime signals	Investigate context, adjust risk rating

POPIA, breach reporting, and handling PEP data responsibly (this year’s must-knows)

POPIA compliance: process PEP/KYC data with care

PEP screening involves personal information and sometimes sensitive risk indicators. Under POPIA, you should ensure:

Lawful processing with a clear purpose (compliance and risk management)
Minimality: collect only what you need
Security safeguards: protect data against loss, unauthorised access, and leaks
Retention controls: keep records only as long as required for compliance and audits
Operator management: ensure contracts and controls with service providers

Reference POPIA guidance here: popia.co.za

Breach reporting and the POPIA eServices Portal

Data breaches are not hypothetical—they’re operational reality. Currently, organisations should be prepared to:

Detect and triage suspected breaches quickly
Preserve evidence (logs, access records, impacted systems)
Notify affected individuals and the regulator where required
Use the Information Regulator’s channels, including the POPIA eServices Portal, for reporting and related processes

Visit the regulator’s site: inforegulator.org.za

Important compliance note
If your KYC/PEP data is compromised, your incident response must cover containment, notification, and remediation—and your records should show what you did and when you did it.

Penalties: why “good enough” isn’t good enough

POPIA enforcement has real teeth. Organisations face significant consequences for poor handling of personal information, including penalties up to ZAR 10 million (and other legal outcomes depending on the facts). This is why secure onboarding + controlled access + audit trails matter in day-to-day operations.

💡 Ready to streamline your General Business compliance? Sign up for VerifyNow and start verifying IDs in seconds.

Practical AML + FICA steps for General Business (actionable checklist)

Build a risk-based AML programme that scales

Many South African businesses assume AML controls are “only for banks.” In reality, General Business often faces AML exposure through refunds, high-value goods, cross-border payments, procurement, and third-party arrangements.

Use this practical checklist to keep your programme audit-ready:

Document your risk assessment (customer type, product, channel, geography)
Define onboarding rules (what you collect and when you escalate)
Screen connected parties (directors, beneficial owners, signatories)
Set EDD triggers (PEP match, high-risk jurisdiction, unusual behaviour)
Keep evidence of decisions (why you approved, what you reviewed)
Train staff on what to do when risk flags appear
Review and refresh customer checks periodically

A simple escalation matrix (easy to implement)

A clear escalation path reduces guesswork and inconsistent decisions.

Risk Level	Example trigger	Required action
Low	No PEP indicators	Standard onboarding + recordkeeping
Medium	Possible PEP match	Verify identifiers + manager review
High	Confirmed PEP / high-risk profile	EDD, senior approval, monitoring plan

What to document for audit readiness

When regulators or auditors ask, “Show us how you managed AML risk,” you want clean evidence. Keep:

Screening results and case notes
EDD documents (where applicable)
Approval records (who approved, under what conditions)
Ongoing monitoring actions and outcomes

For broader compliance guidance and AML context, consult the Financial Intelligence Centre: fic.gov.za

Speed + compliance: how VerifyNow supports better customer experience

Customers want fast onboarding. Compliance teams want defensible decisions. Using VerifyNow helps you deliver both by making checks part of a consistent workflow—so your team can move quickly without losing control.

If you want to operationalise PEP screening as part of your onboarding, start here: Start Your Free Trial ✅

FAQ: AML PEP screening with VerifyNow (South Africa)

Can I check AML PEP with VerifyNow for individuals and businesses?

Yes. For individuals, you screen the customer directly. For business customers, you typically screen connected parties such as directors, beneficial owners, and authorised signatories as part of your KYC and FICA process.

POPIA doesn’t always require consent as the only lawful basis—compliance obligations and legitimate purpose can apply. The practical best practice is to be transparent in your onboarding notices and privacy policy, explaining that you conduct KYC/AML screening for compliance and risk management. Review POPIA guidance at popia.co.za.

What should I do if a customer is a confirmed PEP?

Don’t panic—and don’t ignore it. Apply Enhanced Due Diligence, document your decision, and implement senior approval and ongoing monitoring. If other red flags appear, escalate internally per your risk policy.

How often should I rescreen customers for PEP status?

Use a risk-based approach:

Rescreen high-risk customers more frequently
Rescreen on trigger events (ownership change, new signatory, unusual transactions)
Refresh when customer details change

How does POPIA breach reporting affect KYC and PEP data?

If KYC/PEP data is exposed, you may need to notify impacted individuals and the regulator. Make sure your incident response plan includes reporting steps and aligns with the regulator’s guidance via inforegulator.org.za. This year, operational readiness for breach reporting is a must.

Get Started with VerifyNow Today

You don’t need to overcomplicate compliance to do it well. With VerifyNow, you can embed AML PEP screening into a practical FICA and KYC workflow that supports fast onboarding and strong governance.

Benefits of signing up:

Streamline FICA and KYC checks in one workflow
Improve AML risk controls with consistent screening and escalation
Build audit-ready records with clearer decision trails
Support POPIA-aligned handling of personal information
Reduce onboarding friction while staying compliant ⚡