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Top-class investment expertise

There is a wealth of world-class expertise that will guide an investor through the process of registering a business in South Africa. Legal, management, banking and accounting firms are supported by chambers of commerce, embassies and government offices.

Legal firms

A range of major legal firms offer useful information and can advise the foreign investor in all aspects of their business in South Africa:

• Werksmans Attorneys: www.werksmans.co.za.
• Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENS), Africa's largest law firm:www.ens.co.za
• Norton Rose Fulbright, a top 10 global legal practice: www.nortonrose.com
• Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, affiliated with DLA Piper: www.cliffedekkerhofmeyr.com
• Webber Wentzel Bowens, in association with Linklaters: www.webberwentzel.com.
• Bowman Gilfillan: www.bowman.co.za

Large accounting firms

The following is a list of the major accounting firms in South Africa:

• BDO Spencer Steward: www.bdo.co.za
• Deloitte & Touche: www.deloitte.com/za
• Ernst & Young: www.ey.com/za
• Grant Thornton Kessel Feinstein: www.gt.co.za
• KPMG: www.kpmg.com/za
• PKF South Africa: www.pkf.co.za
• Price Waterhouse Coopers:
• SekelaXabiso: www.sekelaxabiso.co.za

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants has a full directory of members: www.saica.co.za.

Chambers of commerce

There are numerous regional and city-specific chambers of commerce that will support international investors throughout South Africa.

• South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry: www.sacci.org.za
• Durban Chamber of Commerce & Industry: www.durbanchamber.co.za
• Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industry: www.capechamber.co.za
• Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce & Industry: www.jcci.co.za

Read more: South African business chambers

Banks

South Africa has a sophisticated and well-regulated banking sector. Many banks are subsidiaries of international conglomerates while local bank often have an international presence. These are all able to offer the foreign investor expert advice on all aspects of doing business in South Africa. Many have global offices and divisions dedicated to assisting companies and individuals to trade in South Africa.

• The South African Reserve Bank keeps an up-to-date list of registered banks and representative offices. See www.resbank.co.za
• The Bank Monitor - an independent guide to banking services in South Africa.

Read more: Banks and foreign exchange in SA

Business information services

Department of Trade Industry – provides a list of information services and links on doing business in South Africa.

• Website: www.dti.gov.za

Frontier Market Network – company news, business leads and analysis. It also incorporates TradeInvest South Africa, which gives members access to a range of business and investment opportunities specific to their industry and region of interest.

• Website: www.frontiermarketnetwork.com and www.tradeinvestsa.co.za

Mbendi – a business trade information site that helps business people to identify and research business opportunities in the country and industry sectors of their choice.

• Website: www.mbendi.co.za

SAinfo reporter

Reviewed: 13 May 2013