How to Register a Private Company in South Africa

1. Get a name for your company. Avoid using a name that has already been taken
or one that is immoral or offensive. The Companies Act also requires that the
name of a private company always end with the expression “Proprietary Limited”
or its abbreviation, “(Pty) Ltd”.

2. Your chosen company name must then be approved and reserved at the
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) with them informing you
once your name has been reserved. The name will remain reserved for a period
of six months during which period you can apply for the registration of your
company.

3. The Companies Act determines that a private company must have a minimum of
one director and incorporator, which may be the same person and can also
include a juristic person such as another company or trust.

4. The incorporator must initiate registration by completing and submitting to CIPC
the following:
(i) A Notice of Incorporation form CoR14.1 which contains the name and identity
number of the incorporator and all the information of the company such as
the company’s registered office address, number of directors, date of
financial year end, etc.
(ii) An Initial Directors form CoR14.1A which will contain all the information for
each of the initial directors of the company, such as the director name,
identity number, residential and postal address, etc.
(iii) A Company Appointments form CoR14.1D which contains the information of
the company’s auditor and/or company secretary – this form is not mandatory
for company registration and should only be completed if an auditor or
company secretary is appointed.
(iv) A Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) form CoR15.1A which is the standard
MOI template provided by CIPC which can be used. One can however submit
your own custom MOI which better addresses your own preferences and
requirements for the running of the company.
(v) A Confirmation Notice of Name Reservation form CoR9.4 which was
obtained when the company name was approved and reserved by CIPC.
(vi) Certified identity copies of the incorporator and director(s).

5. The company will be a juristic person from the date of incorporation as stated in
Registration Certificate and will be able to do business as a company from that
date.

6. A company is required to file annual returns with CIPC as of the anniversary date
of its incorporation which will include the paying of prescribed fees determined on
a sliding scale based on your company’s annual turnover.