You can apply for registration if your organization is non-profit and not affiliated with the government. You can apply for a non-profit organization (NPO) through your local provincial social development office.
NPOs are trusts, corporations, or other associations of people formed for a public purpose.
Registering your NPO is advantageous since it boosts your credibility and financing opportunities.
permits your company to open a bank account
assists your organization with tax breaks
You must be one of the following to register:
a non-profit organization (NGO)
a neighborhood organization (CBO)
religious organization (FBO).
What you must do
Submit the completed NPO application form, along with two copies of the organization’s formation documents, to your nearest provincial social development office:
Deeds of trust and letters of authority from the courts
Section 21 – Certificate of incorporation as well as memorandum and articles of organization
Constitution of a Voluntary Association
The NPO’s formation documents must comply with Section 12 (A-O) of the Nonprofit Organizations Act, 1997. (Act 71 of 1997). If you do not comply, your application will be rejected.
Your application can be submitted at your nearest provincial Social Development office, mailed to The Directorate, Non-profit Organisations, Department of Social Development, Private Bag X901, Pretoria, 0001, or delivered in person to the Department of Social Development, 134 Pretorius Street, HSRC Building, Pretoria.
If you are unhappy with the decision to reject or terminate your organization’s certificate, you may file an appeal with the panel arbitrators.
Once registered, you must submit the organization’s annual report nine months after the end of its fiscal year. The annual report should include both a narrative and a financial report.
It is a criminal offense for an organization to operate under the guise of a registered non-profit organization. Various government agencies provide funds for a variety of services.
Timeframe
The complete registration process might take up to two months.
The department will send you an acknowledgement letter after your application has been received. If your application fits the requirements of the Nonprofit Organizations Act, 1997, a registration certificate will be issued.
How much does it cost to establish a non-profit organization in South Africa?
NPO registration in South Africa is free and simple to complete on your own. This is true whether you apply online or in person at a DSD office. While drafting the constitution, the provisions of the Nonprofit Organizations Act, 1997 (Act 71 of 1997) are straightforward to follow.
Can I register a NPO on my own?
A non-profit corporation must have three incorporators and three directors and may be registered with or without members.
