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CIPC administers all or parts of fifteen (15) pieces of legislation relating to corporate and intellectual property regulation. Its mandate encompasses companies, close corporations, co-operatives, trade marks, patents, designs, aspects of copyright legislation and enforcement of rules and regulations in most of these areas of law. CIPC’s primary institutional mandate is derived from the Companies Act, 2008, which establishes CIPC as a juristic person.

LegislationMandate
Companies Amendment Act 16 of 2006 Regulator: companies, business rescue practitioners, and corporate names; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by companies; accredit dispute resolution agencies; educate and inform about the Act; non-binding opinion and rulings; policy and legislative advice.
Companies Amendment Act 17 of 2009 Regulator: companies, business rescue practitioners, and corporate names; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by companies; accredit dispute resolution agencies; educate and inform about the Act; non-binding opinion and rulings; policy and legislative advice.
Co-operatives Administrative Regulations 2016 Co-operative Administrative regulations.
Principles of Good Governance for Co-operatives Principles of Good Governance for Co-operatives.
Co-operatives Amendment Act 6 of 2013 Regulator: co-operatives; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by co-operatives.
Companies Act, 2008 (No 71 of 2008) Regulator: companies, business rescue practitioners, and corporate names; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by companies; accredit dispute resolution agencies; educate and inform about all laws; non-binding opinions and rulings; policy and legislative advice.
Close Corporations Act, 1984 (Act 69 of 1984) Maintain data, regulate governance of and disclosure by close corporations.
Share Blocks Control Act, 1980 (Act 59 of 1980) Regulator: business names.
Co-operatives Act, 2005 (Act 14 of 2005) Regulator: co-operatives; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by co-operatives.
Patents Act, 1978 (Act 57 of 1978) Register patents; maintain data; perform patent search.
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (effective in SA from 16 March 1999) To provide functioning of the PCT co-receiving, designated, and elected offices in terms of PCT.
Trade Marks Act, 1993 (Act 194 of 1993) Register trademarks; maintain data; publish patent journal; administer Court of Commissioner of Patents.
Designs Act, 1993 (Act 195 of 1993) Register designs; maintain data; resolve disputes.
Copyright Act, 1978 (Act 98 of 1978) Provide non-binding advice to the public.
Registration of Cinematography Films Act, 1977 (Act 62 of 1977) Register films; maintain data.
Performers Protection Act, 1967 (Act 11 of 1967) Accredit Collecting Societies; regulate their governance, conduct, and disclosure.
The Counterfeit Goods Act Conduct raids; coordinate search and seizure operations; oversee disposal.
Merchandise Marks Act, 1941 (Act 17 of 1941) Prevent and enforce the unauthorised use of marks.
Films and Publications Act, 1996 (Act 65 of 1996) Prevent and enforce the unauthorised use of marks.

South Africa is a member of a number of important Treaties and Agreements and ensuring compliance with South Africa’s obligations in terms of these Treaties or Agreements.  CIPC administers these treaties on behalf of South Africa.  These Treaties and Agreements include the following:

  • Paris Convention;
  • Patent Co-operation Treaty
  • Berne Convention
  • Budapest Treaty; and the
  • TRIPS Agreement

It is anticipated that South Africa will conclude accession to the Hague Agreement and the Madrid Protocol in the near future, which will require CIPC to administer those Treaties as well.

Practice Notes

YearParticulars
2026
  •  Practice note 1 of 2026 – Patent stakeholders: electronic issuance of digital patents and patents of addition
2025
2024
2023
2022
  • Practice note 5 – Issuance of Notices of Acceptance Official Actions and e-filing of outstanding documents
  • Practice note 4 – Closure of co-operative online email
  • Practice note 3 – Independent Review
  • Practice note 2 – Certification requirements for documents filed with the CIPC
  • Practice notes 1 – Requirements for company and close corporation re-instatement in terms of regulations 4(2)(b)
2021

 

2020

 

2019
2018
2017
2016

COMPANIES (Merger and Amalgamation Filing Procedure)

Annual Returns

Trade Marks

2015

Trade Marks

  • Practice Note 2 of 2015 – Size restrictions

Practice Notes

  • Practice Note 2 of 2015 – Notice to Accounting Officers – Inclusion of customer code in reports which are submitted in terms of section 62(3) (b) (ii) of the Close Corporations Act 69 of 1984.
2014
2012
  • Practice Note 6 of 2012 – Requirements for re-instatement in terms of the companies act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008)
  • Practice Note 4 of 2012 – Interpretation of section 11 (3) (b) read with section 15 (2) (b) and (c) of the companies act, 2008, in relation to the use of “(RF)” in the name of a company – Requirements for appointing and resignation of auditors and or company secretaries
  • Practice Note 3 of 2012 – Application for liquidation of solvent or insolvent companies or close corporations
  • Practice Note 2 of 2012 – Interpretation and application of section 23 of the Companies Act, 2008, and regulation 43 of the Companies Regulations, 2011 – Sibakhulu Construction (Pty) Ltd v Wedgewood Village Gold and Country Estate (Pty) Ltd
  • Practice Note 1 of 2012 – Position of pre-existing companies on the adoption of a new Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) or the amendment of an existing MOI under the Companies Act, 2008 (The Act)
2011

CIPRO Practice Notes

Practice Note Subject Relevant to
Practice Note 1 of 2006 Close Corporations Act, 2005 Close Corporations
Practice Note 1 of 2008 Close Corporations Act, No 69 of 1984 Close Corporations
Practice Note 2 of 2008 Ck2s linked to bond registrations/deeds office Close Corporations
Practice Note 3 of 2008 Notice regarding electronic lodgment of CK1, CK2 and CK2A as well as membership of close corporations by Non-South African citizen Close Corporations
Practice Note 4 of 2008 Creditors’ voluntary winding-up under Section 351 of Companies Act, 1973 Close Corporations
Practice Note 1 of 2009 External Companies and Section 21A Companies and Associations Companies
Practice Note 2 of 2009 – Withdrawn External Companies and Section 21A Companies and Associations Companies
Practice Note 3 of 2009 Publication of Company and Close Corporation notices in the government gazette and on the CIPRO website: Corporate Laws Amendment Act, 2006 Companies & Close Corporations
Practice Note 4 of 2009 Notice regarding Electronic and manual lodgment of CK1, CK2 and CK2A Close Corporations
Practice Note 5 of 2009 Registrar’s Directive on Names of Companies and Close Corporations as well as Defensive Names according to the Companies Act, Act No 61 of 1973 and the Close Corporations Act, Act no 69 of 1984, as amended. Companies & Close Corporations
Practice Note 6 of 2009 Withdrawn with effective date 1 Nov 2012 Annual Returns for Companies and Close Corporations Companies & Close Corporations

Withdrawn Practice Notes

Practice Note Subject
Practice Note 6 of 2009 Annual Returns for Companies and Close Corporations
Practice Note 7 of 2011 Restoration by creditor
Practice Note 2 of 2011 Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations
Practice Note 5 of 2012 Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations in terms of Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008)

GUIDANCE NOTES
2026 Guideline 1 of 2026 – Prospectus filing requirements
2025 Guideline 1 of 2025 – Consequences of non-compliance with director duties
2024 Guidance of 2024 – Prospectus filing requirements
2023

Guideline 2 of 2023 – Beneficial Owner Filing Requirements

Guideline 1 of 2023 – The Protection of Personal Information ACT (POPIA) Consent

2020

Guideline 2 of 2020 – Director quick reference

Guidance on prospectuses–  Pre-and post-registration requirements

2019

Guidance Note 2 of 2019 – Time periods for filing annual returns and annual financial statements

Guidance Note 1 of 2019 – Company, Close Corporation and Co-operative registration numbers to appear on court documents and court orders submitted to CIPC for implementation.

2018 Guidance Note 1 of 2018  – Guideline for corporate compliance programme
2011

Guidance Note 1 of 2011 – Registration of Special Resolutions

Guidance Note 2 of 2011 – Registration of companies

Guidance Note 3 of 2011 – Changes to external companies

Guidance Note 4 of 2011– No more conversions from company to a close corporation

Guidance Note 5 of 2011 – Vetting and registration of Prospectuses

Guidance Note 6 of 2011 – Conversion of pre-existing companies limited by guarantee in terms of Companies Act 71 of 2008

Guidance Note 7 of 2011 – Conversion of close corporations to companies in terms of Companies Act 71 of 2008

Guidance Note 8 of 2011 – Conversion of par value shares in terms of Companies Act 71 of 2008

2012

Guidance Note 1 of 2012 – Change of financial year end

Guidance Note 2 of 2012 – Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations – Withdrawn with effective date 1 Nov

Guidance Note 3 of 2012 – Re-instatement of companies and close corporations – Withdrawn with effective date 1 Nov 2012

Guidance Note 4 of 2012 – Rejections in relation to applications for close corporation amendments

2013

Guidance Note 1 of 2013 – Amendment of Corporate Constitutions(Memorandum and Articles of Association) Before Expiry Date of Transitional Arrangements Under Companies Act,2008

Guidance Note 2 of 2013 – Members’ signatures on close corporation amendment forms (CK2)

Withdrawn Guidance Notes

Guidance Note 2 of 2012 – Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations

Guidance Note 3 of 2012 – Re-instatement of companies and close corporations

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