Pretoria · South Africa
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South Africa × Corporate & Entity Services
Corporate & Entity Services in South Africa
Setting up companies abroad, and keeping them in good standing. In South Africa, that means local law, local regulators and local practice, handled by a qualified professional who practises there.
Who handles this workNamed WONE Global lead
Pretoria · South Africa- What happens next · 1WONE Global acknowledges your requirement and confirms what's involved.
- 2Personnel Contract Management (Pty) Ltd runs its conflict checks.
- 3We confirm Johan Beer as your named lead.
- 4You agree scope and fees directly with the firm before work begins.
South Africa at a glanceAfrica
Johannesburg · Tuesday 10 November
17:58
Local time
- Currency
- ZAR
- Working week
- Monday – Friday
- Dialling code
- +27
- Region
- Africa
What the rules say in South Africa
Corporate & Entity Services, the essentials
From the South Africa market guide: the points that matter most for corporate & entity services, each with the source it was checked against.
Essentials guide · Source-checked research100% of statements checked against a source54 checked against an official source0 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-19Not yet professionally reviewed
CIPC registers five types of company: private, public, personal liability, state-owned and non-profit companies.
Companies Act, 71 of 2008. A private company with a standard or customised Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) is the usual vehicle for a foreign-owned subsidiary.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19A foreign company that conducts, or intends to conduct, business in South Africa must register with CIPC as an external company, and registration is made electronically.
Foreign companies. What counts as conducting business is set by section 23 of the Companies Act, 2008; confirm the position for the planned activities.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19All entities registered with CIPC, other than co-operatives, must file beneficial ownership information, defined by reference to the individual who directly or indirectly ultimately owns or effectively controls the entity.
Companies and close corporations; 'affected' companies (public and state-owned companies and certain private companies under the Takeover Regulations) and their subsidiaries file under a separate route.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19Newly incorporated entities must file beneficial ownership information within 10 business days of incorporation, and other entities must file an amended declaration within 10 business days of any change.
CIPC-registered companies and close corporations.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19From 1 July 2024 CIPC requires the beneficial ownership declaration to be filed with the annual return, which is due within 30 business days after the entity's anniversary date.
Companies and close corporations; an annual return cannot be completed by an entity that is not beneficial ownership compliant.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19The beneficial ownership obligations were introduced into the Companies Act, 71 of 2008, by the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Act, 22 of 2022, with submissions effective from 24 May 2023.
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19CIPC indicates that professional practices such as lawyers or doctors may register as personal liability companies and should confirm the correct form with their professional regulator.
Regulated professions.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19Public companies, state-owned companies and private companies that have transferred more than 10 percent of their securities within the previous 24 months are 'affected' companies under the Takeover Regulations, as are their subsidiaries.
Companies Act, 71 of 2008; the Takeover Regulation Panel regulates affected transactions.Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) · checked 2026-10-19
Read the full guide: Entry, investment and company formation
Scope
What the service covers here
- 01Choose the appropriate legal presence
- 02Form or register the required entity
- 03Put governance and statutory records in place
- 04Maintain ongoing corporate compliance
Key questions
What we will work through with you
- What needs to be decided before corporate & entity services work starts?
- Who is professionally responsible in each country?
- Which other work, such as tax or employment, must happen at the same time?
- What information and decisions are needed from the business?
If your work involves another country or another area of expertise, WONE Global brings in the right professional and keeps all advisers informed.
WONE Global Partners in South Africa
Other WONE Global Partners here
The other named professionals responsible for WONE Global work in South Africa.
Johannesburg · South AfricaJohannesburg · South Africa
WONE Global Partner · South Africa
Kameel Keshav
Corporate finance, M&A, capital markets, strategic advisory and board governance professional.
Also in South Africa
Other services in this market
Appointed services show their named professional. Open positions link directly to the Expression of Interest form.
Legal & ContractingLed by Johan BeerTax & International StructuringLed by Johan BeerGovernment & Regulatory AffairsOpen position · Expression of Interest →Employment, Payroll & MobilityLed by Johan BeerCommercial Intelligence & Market ResearchLed by Kameel KeshavAccounting, Reporting & Statutory ComplianceLed by Johan BeerAudit & AssuranceLed by Kameel Keshav CA(SA)Finance & TreasuryOpen position · Expression of Interest →Banking & Capital AccessLed by Kameel KeshavPayments, Foreign Exchange & SettlementLed by Kameel Keshav CA(SA)Insurance & Risk TransferOpen position · Expression of Interest →Transactions & DealsLed by Kameel KeshavTrade, Customs & Supply ChainOpen position · Expression of Interest →Technology, Data & CyberOpen position · Expression of Interest →Intellectual Property & Brand ProtectionLed by Kameel Keshav CA(SA)Risk, Compliance & Financial IntegrityLed by Johan BeerDisputes & ResolutionOpen position · Expression of Interest →
Cases
What clients bring to Corporate & Entity Services
The cases this service leads or joins, each with what is at stake, how WONE Global handles it and who handles it in South Africa.
Urgent Our local manager abroad has taken control of the subsidiary. What can we do?Corporate ownership & governanceUrgent Our company abroad has been struck off. How do we fix it?Corporate ownership & governanceUrgent A foreign authority wants our documents apostilled or legalised. How?Market entry, licensing & government engagementUrgent Investors want our company moved to Delaware or Singapore before they invest.Corporate ownership & governanceShould we open a branch, a subsidiary or just use a distributor abroad?Market entry, licensing & government engagementHow do we set up a company in another country, and how long will it take?Market entry, licensing & government engagementCan we just open a branch or representative office instead of a full company?Market entry, licensing & government engagementWhat must be in place before our new office abroad starts trading?Market entry, licensing & government engagementHow do we keep our foreign company compliant with the registry every year?Corporate ownership & governanceHow do we change directors or shareholders of our company abroad?Corporate ownership & governance
WONE Global Intelligence
Ask about corporate & entity services in South Africa
Ask in your own words. Answers come from WONE Global's checked records, with every source shown, and end with the named Partner who can act. Go deeper on any point, or build a decision file.
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