Registering a business

Businesses are created by the Companies Act 61 of 1973, as amended, which is the machinery that enables the company to be formed for lawful purposes.

Business registrations are done through The Company and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO), accessible on line at : www.cipro.gov.za


There are generally 5 types of companies:

  • A private company generally referred to as a "Pty" (Proprietary Limited Company),
  • A Public Company (Ltd),
  • A Section 21 Company or company not for gain,
  • An external Company (foreign company registered in South Africa),
  • An incorporated Company
  • Other formations:
    • A close corporation
    • A co-operative business
Registration procedures and application forms are obtainable at CIPRO: Tel: +27 (0) 86 184 3384 or +27 12 394 9500, Email:info@cipro.gov.za, Website: http://www.cipro.gov.za

Tax registration
Compliance with South African tax laws, tax registration and revenue is done by the South African Tax revenue (SARS).Their contacts are:

National Contacts: 0800 00 72 77
International contacts: +27 11 602 2093
Website: http://www.sars.gov.za
 
Local (Richardsbay) Tax Office
Region: KwaZulu-Natal
City : Richards Bay
Building: The Bay Mall
E-mail address: Contact.east@sars.gov.za
Telephone number: Call our SARS Contact Centre on 0800 00 7277 (0800 00 SARS)
Fax number: +27 31 3286018
Physical address: Shop no 12
The Bay Mall, Bayside
Richards Bay
3900
Business hours: Weekdays 8:00 - 16:00 and Wednesdays 9:00 - 16:00

Development Finance Institutions
IDC : Industrial development corporation: http://www.idc.co.za
KZN Growth Fund : http://www.kzngrowthfund.co.za
NEF : National Empowerment Fund ( for local equity partners finance): http://www.nefcorp.co.za
 
Venture Capitalist
Private Equity and Venture Capital providers are available in South Africa.
Contact details for more information:
http://www.savca.co.za/fullmembers/default.aspx
Tel: +27 11 268 0041, Fax: +27 11 268 0527, Email: info@savca.co.za
Investec : http://www.investec.co.za
 
Retail & Commercial Banks
The major banking groups are:
ABSA (with a major stake held by Barclays): www.absa.co.za,
First Rand: www.fnb.co.za,
Nedbank: www.nedbank.co.za, and
Standard Bank : www.standardbank.co.za
 
Permits for Foreign Employees
The movement of people into South Africa is controlled by the country’s Immigration Amendment Act ( No. 9 0f 2004). The following documents will be facilitated through the Department of Home Affairs (DHA):
Visas, Temporary Residence and Permanent residence permits,
Business permits, Work permits, Corporate permits, Study permits, Exchange permits, Quota Work / Exceptional Skills Work, Intra-company transfer work permit ( it allows multi-national companies to deploy employees from other countries to work in their South African offices for a period of four years.)
 
 DHA contacts:
National call center: 0800 601 190
International callers: +27 11 461 9252
Email: csc@dha.gov.za
Website: http://www.home-affairs.gov.za
 
Employment Regulations
The Department of Labour is in charge of all employment related matters regulated by the Labour Relations Act click here
For more information please contact the department at: Tel: +27 31 366 2006, Fax: +27 31 366 2300 and Email: webmaster@labour.gov.za
 
Utilities
Water & Electricity
The local Municipality rates for water, refuse removal and electricity are available and updated annually. For more information kindly please click here