Beneficial Ownership Declaration for a Close Corporation in South Africa
Beneficial ownership declaration for close corporation compliance has rapidly become one of the biggest pressure points facing South African businesses, accountants and company secretarial practitioners. Not because the filing itself is necessarily difficult. But because many Close Corporations were established years ago, ownership records changed over time, trusts became involved, family arrangements evolved informally, and […]
Can a Company Own a Member’s Interest in a Close Corporation?
No. A company cannot own a member’s interest in a Close Corporation. The legal position is not grey. It is not nuanced. And it is not one of those areas of South African corporate law where “it depends”. A Close Corporation does not accommodate juristic ownership in the way a private company does. It was […]
South African Startup Week 2026 | What Founders Are Really Focusing On
South African Startup Week 2026: A Shift in Focus A different kind of startup conversation Intersect recently exhibited at South African Startup Week 2026 in Cape Town, hosted by Startup Club ZA. On the surface, the event looked like what you would expect from a growing startup ecosystem. Founders, investors, operators, ecosystem partners, workshops, panel […]
Do South African NPOs actually have to file “beneficial ownership” with the CIPC?
If you run an NPO in South Africa, you’ve probably bumped into the phrase beneficial ownership (BO) and wondered whether it has anything to do with you. After all, you’re not in this for profit, and you don’t have shareholders lining up for dividends. So why is the CIPC suddenly part of your Tuesday? Here’s […]
Avoiding the Next Kleuterzone: A Due Diligence Checklist for Investors
Last week, one of our Intersect users reported a system bug, only to discover that their client’s legacy share certificate, contained an incorrect company registration number. Thanks to Intersect’s automated CIPC – Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (a member of the dtic Group) verification, they were alerted to the discrepancy and were able to rectify […]
Learning from Athletics South Africa’s Deregistration: Why Every Business Must Stay Current with CIPC Annual Returns & Beneficial Ownership Filings
In February 2025, Athletics South Africa (ASA) made headlines when it was officially deregistered by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) for failing to file its annual returns for two consecutive years. This oversight — codified in Government Gazette Publication 2025‑299 — led to ASA losing its legal personality and jeopardising funding for events, […]
SARS Tightens Regulations on Public Officers for Companies in South Africa
Learn about the implications of SARS’ proposed changes regarding the appointment of public officers for companies.
Global Trends in Beneficial Ownership Transparency
This article explores the growing movement for beneficial ownership transparency (BOT). Learn how BOT is combating financial crime, boosting accountability, and what the future holds for this critical initiative.