South Africa company register search
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
Search Company Records in South Africa
3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.
How do I search the company register in South Africa?
The South Africa company register is maintained by CIPC (https://www.cipc.co.za). Search it by company name or registration number to see Registration number, Company name, Type, Status. Searching the register is free and needs no login.
Step-by-step
- 1
Know which register holds the record
In South Africa, company records sit on CIPC. Trade directories and aggregator sites are copies — the register is the source of truth.
https://www.cipc.co.za - 2
Search by name or registration number
A registration number returns exactly one entity. A name may return several, especially for groups using the same brand across entities.
- 3
Read the register entry, not the marketing page
The register entry shows Registration number, Company name, Type, Status. That is what a bank, auditor or counterparty will check.
- 4
Keep a dated copy
Register entries change. Save the record with the date you retrieved it, or set up monitoring so you are told when the entry changes.
Frequently asked questions
Is the South Africa company register free to search?
Yes. Searching CIPC and reading the public entry is free and requires no login. Certified documents may carry an official fee.
Which register is the official one in South Africa?
CIPC, at https://www.cipc.co.za. Anything else republishing South Africa company data is a copy of that register.
What does a South Africa register entry show?
Registration number, Company name, Type, Status. Availability of each field depends on what CIPC publishes.
Do register entries stay accurate?
Only until the company files its next change. Directors, addresses and status can change without notice, which is why a dated copy — or automatic monitoring of the entry — matters for anything contractual.
What is a (Pty) Ltd?
Pty Ltd (Proprietary Limited) is South Africa's private company, equivalent to a Ltd. It restricts the transfer of shares and limits the number of shareholders to 50. There's no minimum capital requirement. It's the most common company type in South Africa.
People also ask about search the company register in South Africa
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the South Africa company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the CIPC are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official South Africa business registry?
The CIPC is the official public register of companies incorporated in South Africa. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.cipc.co.za.
Related guides and tools
More South Africa guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
- Look up a company by number
Search by the official identifier — exactly one entity, every time.
South Africa data
- South Africa company search
Search every CIPC record.