A public corporation is one that can sell its stock to the general public but is limited in its ability to make pre-emptive stock offerings. A minimum of 3 directors are needed to form a public company and are the only companies to be listed on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE). See our guidelines on the public company registration process and our easy to follow steps.
Public Company Registration Process
- Register as a customer
- Reserve a Corporate name
- Register via email
- Registration funds
Register as a customer
Step 1- Get Started
Go to eservices.cipc.co.za and click on “Customer Registration”
Step 2- Identification
Indicate if you are a South African citizen or not and fill in the required information
Step 3- Personal Information
Fill in your personal information in the space provided and when done, click on the register
Step 4- Confirmation
You will then receive your confirmation message and your customer code
Reserve a Corporate name
Step 1- Get Started
Visit www.cipc.co.za and click on “Online Transacting” then on “e-Services”
Step 2- Customer Login
On the left-hand side of the screen, click on “Customer Login” and then enter the required details
Step 3- Name reservation
Once the landing page has successfully opened, click on “Name Reservation”
Step 4- Proposed Name
Proceed and click on “Proposed Name”
Step 5- Reserve Names
Enter the name up to 4 names in the order that you prefer to reserve and then click on “Submit Proposed Name”
Step 6- Name Availability
You will then be notified if the preferred name is available or is already registered and indicated so with the red “X”. Once done click on the “Lodge Name Reservation”
Step 7- Name Reserved
On this landing page, you will receive the confirmation code that your name has been successfully reserved.
Extension of reserved name
A reserved name will be valid for 6 months from the date of approval, but it can be extended by the person who submitted the name reservation for a period of 60 business days at a time by submitting an application with the stipulated fee of R30. The extension of the name should be made one month prior to the expiry date. Once the reserved name has expired it cannot be extended.
Register via email
You will need the following documents to complete the public company registration process via email:
- CoR14.1
- CoR14.1A
- CoR14.1 Annexure D.
- CoR15.1B or you can create your own public company memorandum of incorporation. It is recommended to seek professional legal services when setting up the memorandum of incorporation
- In the case of ring-fencing (when you limit the business activities of what the public company can do, you will need to ring-fence provisions of the MOI) you will need to submit CoR14.1C.
Once all the documents have been signed and the information has been given in the spaces provided, scan and email the finished documents to [email protected].
Please note that the following documents should be attached to the email:
- The confirmation of name reservation (see our easy to follow guide here)
- Certified copy of applicant, directors and incorporators
- Power of attorney
Registration funds
A deposit of R425 is required for the public company registration process without a name reservation or R475 with a name reservation. The deposit should be made to the CIPC bank.
Account name: CIPC
Account number: 4055 68 1017
Branch name: Van der Walt Street
Payment reference: CUSTOMER CODE