Is forex trading legal in South Africa?
Not legal advice. Below are the regulators’ own words, quoted from their official pages on the dates shown. Laws and rules change: check the regulator’s site before you open an account.
By Wealth.cat editorial team Facts verified on October 14, 2026
In South Africa, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) authorises financial services providers (FSPs) and publishes warnings about persons and entities that are not authorised.
The quotes below come from three FSCA press releases: on unauthorised financial services business (2 June 2025), on providing trading signals without a licence (16 October 2024) and a public warning of 22 September 2026. They cover the FSCA’s statement that offering financial products or services in South Africa requires its authorisation, how it treats signals on online trading in financial products, the FSP number that authorised providers must display, and its caution about unsolicited investment or trading offers on social media.
Before you open an account, check the firm and its FSP number in the FSCA’s search of authorised financial services providers, linked from its website below.
What the regulator says
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Without commenting on the business of these entities or persons, the FSCA points out that offering financial products or services in South Africa requires authorisation by the FSCA.
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) · October 14, 2026 · Source -
The FSCA points out that the practice of providing or publishing signals with reference to on-line trading in financial products falls within the definition of financial services in the FAIS Act, and as such persons providing such signals requires a financial services provider licence.
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) · October 14, 2026 · Source -
Authorised FSPs are required to display their authorisation (FSP number) on their documentation. The public should avoid paying any funds to a person who cannot provide their FSP number.
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) · October 14, 2026 · Source -
The public is strongly urged to exercise caution when considering unsolicited investment or trading offers, especially those communicated through social media.
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) · October 14, 2026 · Source
Regulators and registers
- Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) · Register of licensed firms
What this means on Wealth.cat
- We show offers from forex and CFD brokers to visitors from South Africa only when the broker holds a licence from a local regulator.
- We show prop firm offers to visitors from South Africa.
This is our own advertising policy, not a statement about what the law allows.
Other countries
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