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Submit detailed requests via your secure client portal or email our compliance desk directly. All submissions receive a confirmation within one business hour.
Response SLA: 4 business hours
For time-sensitive regulatory filings or compliance incidents, call our duty counsel line. Calls are triaged within 15 minutes during office hours.
Response SLA: 15 minutes (urgent)
Book a 45-minute video or in-person session with your assigned legal advisor. Available Monday–Thursday, with next-day slots for existing clients.
Response SLA: Next business day
Before reaching out, check our frequently asked questions for quick answers on common compliance and regulatory topics.
Contact SupportStraightforward answers about legal and compliance matters for international companies in South Africa.
Yes. Any foreign entity conducting business in South Africa must register an external company or incorporate a local subsidiary with CIPC. The process includes submitting a memorandum of incorporation, registered address, and director details. Registration typically takes 5–10 business days.
New subsidiaries must develop a BEE scorecard covering ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and socio-economic development. Even without immediate ownership changes, you can earn points through skills development levies and preferential procurement from BEE-certified suppliers. A verification agency must assess your scorecard annually.
Dividends and branch profits can be repatriated, but you need approval from an Authorised Dealer (usually a commercial bank) under the South African Reserve Bank's oversight. You must provide audited financial statements, tax clearance, and proof that the funds originate from after-tax profits. The process typically takes 2–4 weeks. Recent liberalisation has removed certain limits for genuine transactions.
Every employee must have a written employment contract detailing job title, duties, remuneration, working hours, leave entitlements, and notice periods. You must also register with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation Fund for occupational injuries. A workplace skills plan must be submitted annually to the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).
No, the Companies Act does not require a local director for a private company. However, the company must have a registered office in South Africa and a public officer for tax purposes. Many international firms choose to appoint a local director to simplify regulatory communication and banking relationships.
After registering with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), a tax clearance certificate typically takes 10–15 business days to issue, provided all documentation is complete. The certificate is required for most government tenders, BEE verification, and certain cross-border transactions. Delays often occur if the company's tax registration status or VAT application is still pending.