Standard Bank Namibia yesterday hosted its second annual Anti-Financial Crime Conference, convening top minds from government, finance, technology, and civil society to confront the rising tide of financial crime in Southern Africa. Held under the theme “Combating Financial Crime in the Age of Artificial Intelligence and Geopolitical Unrest,” the conference spotlighted the urgent need for ethical innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and regulatory reform.
Delivering the keynote, Emma Theofelus, Minister of Information and Communication Technology, emphasised the developmental cost of financial crime and announced two major digital governance reforms: the Data Protection Bill, to be tabled in Parliament in September 2025, and the rollout of electronic signatures in early 2026. “Every dollar lost to financial crime is a dollar stolen from Namibia’s future,” she said.
Erwin Tjipuka, CEO of Standard Bank Namibia, opened the conference with a powerful message: “Growth without integrity is fragile. Growth without vigilance is vulnerable. And growth without action is impossible.” He reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Namibia’s removal from the FATF grey list, following the 2024 ESAAMLG evaluation.
Renowned advocate and academic Professor Thuli Madonsela delivered a stirring address on the human cost of cybercrime in the SADC region.
“Cybercrime is not just a technical issue; it is a grave injustice that inflates the cost of doing business and undermines economic stability,” she said.
She highlighted the alarming rise in digital fraud and identity theft, often targeting society’s most vulnerable. Challenging delegates to reflect on the ethical use of technology, she likened AI to a Swiss army knife, versatile and powerful, but capable of harm if misused. “The key,” she argued, “lies in deploying AI ethically and critically, with government playing a proactive role.”
In a compelling presentation titled “AI as Both Weapon and Shield,” Hans-Jürgen Schönig, CEO of CYBERTEC, demonstrated how artificial intelligence can be used to detect anomalies, prevent fraud, and empower institutions to act swiftly. Using examples like the Greek financial crisis, Schönig illustrated how data science and algorithms such as DBSCAN and IsolationForest can uncover hidden patterns and protect financial integrity.
Melanie Harrison, Country Partner for Deloitte, added a strategic lens to the conversation, stating:
“Deloitte’s 2025 report makes it clear that financial institutions are at a reset moment – where fighting financial crime requires more than compliance; it demands transformation.”
She outlined six critical stages for future-ready institutions: intelligent risk management, digital-first client due diligence, integrated monitoring, dynamic risk scoring, AI-driven automation, and real-time collaboration.
The conference, officially endorsed by both the ministry of ICT and the Financial Intelligence Centre, served as a powerful platform for cross-sector collaboration, strategic alignment, and knowledge exchange. It underscored Standard Bank Namibia’s unwavering belief that safeguarding financial integrity is not just a regulatory obligation, but is a catalyst for national development.