| Company Type | Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Private Company | (Pty) Ltd | Most common business type. Cannot sell shares to the public. Limited liability. |
| Public Company | Ltd | Can offer shares to the public. Usually listed on the stock exchange. Requires at least 3 directors. |
| Personal Liability Company | Inc | For professionals (lawyers, doctors, accountants). Directors are personally liable for debts. |
| Non-Profit Company | NPC | Formed for charitable or social purposes. Cannot distribute profits. |
| State-Owned Company | SOC Ltd | Owned by the government and serves public interests (e.g., Eskom). |
| Public Benefit Organisation | No suffix | Tax-exempt organisation for public welfare (charity, religion, etc.). Must register with SARS. |
| Co-Operative | Co-op | Member-owned business benefiting its members (e.g., farming co-ops). |
| Foreign (External) Company | No suffix | A foreign company registered in SA to operate locally. |
| Institution | Purpose | Who Needs It? |
|---|---|---|
| Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) | Registers companies, cooperatives, trademarks, patents, and copyrights. | All formal businesses must register with CIPC. |
| South African Revenue Service (SARS) | Registers for tax, VAT, PAYE, and customs duties. | All businesses must register for tax; those with turnover over R1 million must register for VAT. |
| National Credit Regulator (NCR) | Regulates businesses involved in lending, credit provision, or debt counselling. | Businesses offering loans, credit facilities, or debt collection services. |
| Central Supplier Database (CSD) | Regulates businesses involved in lending, credit provision, or debt counselling. | Businesses wanting to supply goods/services to government departments. |
| Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) | Regulates financial service providers (FSPs), investment firms, and insurance providers. | Financial advisers, brokers, investment firms, and insurance agencies. |
| Bargaining Councils | Regulates employment conditions and compliance in specific industries. | Businesses in industries such as construction, metalwork, and security. |
| Department of Labour (UIF, SDL & COIDA) | Registers employees for Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), Skills Development Levy (SDL), Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (COIDA). | Employers with staff members. |
| Foreign (External) Company | Certifies businesses for B-BBEE benefits. | Businesses that want to work with government or corporate clients. |
| Import and Export Registration (SARS Customs) | Enables businesses to import and export goods legally. | Companies involved in international trade. |
| Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) | Regulates contractors bidding for public sector construction projects. Why is CIDB Registration Important? For Contractors: it allows them to work on public sector construction projects, including government tenders. For Project Owners: ensures that contractors are compliant with industry standards and capable of executing construction projects. For Compliance: CIDB registration categorises contractors based on their capabilities and experience, ensuring that the right contractor is selected for each project. | Contractors bidding for public-sector work, and the project owners who engage them. |
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| PAYE (Pay-As-You-Earn) | A tax system where employers deduct income tax from employees' salaries before paying them. Employers must register for PAYE with SARS and submit monthly payments to SARS. |
| TCC (Tax Clearance Certificate) | A document that confirmed a taxpayer's compliance with SARS (no outstanding taxes or returns). It has been replaced by the Tax Compliance Status (TCS) PIN, which allows businesses and individuals to verify their tax status online. |
| Beneficial Ownership | The person(s) who ultimately own or control a company and benefit from its profits, even if the company is registered under another name. Must be declared when registering a company or updating ownership. Applies to private companies, personal liability companies, and non-profits. Filed via the CIPC Beneficial Ownership Register. |
| Public Officer / Registered Representative | The person appointed to represent a company for tax and eFiling purposes with SARS. |
| National Road Traffic Act Certificate (NRTC) | A certificate issued by the South African Department of Transport or an accredited institution confirming that a vehicle is roadworthy and complies with the National Road Traffic Act standards. Confirms the vehicle is roadworthy and safe for driving. |
Content note: this page was transcribed directly from the live site's Terminology tables. A few rows there had apparent copy/paste mix-ups (for example, the Central Supplier Database and National Credit Regulator rows shared identical "Purpose" text, and the "Public Officer / Registered Representative" and "National Road Traffic Act Certificate" rows had descriptions that didn't match their labels). I've corrected the two that were clearly swapped and left a note here rather than guessing at the rest - worth a quick review with your team before this goes live.