According to the PwC Global Compliance Survey 2025<\/a><\/strong>, the compliance ecosystem is more complex and connected than ever before, driven by transformation, cross-industry reinvention and new business models.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The common denominator globally is the focus on technology risks, particularly cybersecurity and data privacy and protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The survey highlights the operational and strategic impact of this complexity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More than three-quarters (77%) of organisations report being negatively affected by compliance challenges, particularly in areas linked to growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In response, many are moving towards more connected compliance models, with 59% reporting greater confidence in decision-making where compliance is better coordinated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Technology is playing a central role in this shift – improving risk visibility, enabling faster responses, and supporting more effective reporting – yet only a small proportion of organisations currently see themselves as leading in this space, indicating significant room for further development.<\/p>\n\n\n In South Africa, legislation is constantly evolving, with new regulations, amendments, and municipal by-laws affecting how organisations operate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For executives and directors, this raises governance and risk concerns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For business owners, it can create operational and financial challenges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And for managers responsible for implementing policies and procedures, it often means working within a dense regulatory environment without clear or accessible information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As regulation becomes more complex, organisations are increasingly recognising that timely access to accurate and authoritative legal information is becoming essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past two decades, the regulatory environment affecting South African organisations has grown significantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Labour legislation, environmental compliance, procurement rules, financial reporting requirements, and sector-specific regulations all place increasing obligations on businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, regulatory change is constant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n New policies are introduced, existing legislation is amended, and municipal by-laws evolve to address local governance needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For organisations operating across multiple provinces or municipalities, keeping track of these changes can become particularly challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result is that compliance is no longer simply a legal issue – it is a business management challenge that affects multiple functions within an organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat we\u2019re seeing is a shift, compliance is no longer just a legal function; it\u2019s a business-wide responsibility,\u201d said Sabinet Head of Product, Sanet Vos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom the boardroom to operational teams, organisations need access to reliable legal information to make informed decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Traditionally, interpreting legislation and regulatory requirements was the responsibility of legal departments or external advisors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, this capability is now increasingly required across the organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Executives and directors must ensure that governance structures align with regulatory obligations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Business owners need to understand the legal framework that shapes their operations and strategic decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior managers are responsible for translating legislation into policies and procedures, while operational managers often need to reference regulations when making day-to-day decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without reliable access to accurate legal information, this process becomes significantly more difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest obstacles organisations face is that legal information is often scattered across multiple sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Legislation, amendments, regulations, and by-laws may be published in different formats and across various platforms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In some cases, documents may be difficult to locate, outdated, or lacking the indexing needed to support the efficient identification of relevant provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For professionals working under time pressure, this can create inefficiencies and increase the risk of missing important regulatory changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Structured legal information systems are becoming increasingly important in addressing this challenge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Advances in digital information management are transforming how organisations access and use legal information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Modern legal information platforms<\/a><\/strong> bring together legislation, regulations, case law, and related resources in structured, searchable environments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n By organising legal information into indexed and interconnected databases, these systems facilitate the efficient and accurate identification of relevant legal provisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In practice, this facilitates a shift from reactive responses to regulatory developments towards the development of more robust, knowledge-driven compliance and governance processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As regulatory environments become more complex, organisations are recognising that access to authoritative legal information is not only a compliance tool – it is also a strategic resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reliable legal information supports improved decision-making by providing leaders, managers, and professionals with the regulatory context within which their activities take place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sabinet-South-African-businesses-face-growing-regulatory-complexity-683x1024.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nRegulation is expanding – and responsibility is shifting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The real challenge: access to reliable legal information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
From compliance burden to strategic capability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n