Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard The Laundromat with Dawn Pretorius

#7  Hawala: The Invisible Artery of Illicit Finance

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Hawala is more than a remittance tool - it's a silent counter-economy.

Rooted in ancient trust-based systems, the hawala system allows funds to travel across borders without ever entering the formal financial system.

For financial criminals, hawala is an off-the-books express lane. For AML professionals, it's the ultimate blind spot. But for foreigners sending money home, it's cheap, fast, and trustworthy.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Introduction to hawala
  • 01:48 How the Hawala system works
  • 03:06 Impact of September 11 and global regulations
  • 04:06 The Evolution of hawala and its cases in South Africa
  • 06:30 Recent cases and regulatory challenges
  • 08:01 Legislation and regulation in South Africa
  • 09:30 Balanced approaches to regulation
  • 11:48 Progress and future challenges
Season 1 / Episode 7 1 Oct 2025 English South Africa Documentary · Business

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