Promote:
Invest in South Africa
A short guide for companies expanding into South Africa: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. South Africa at a glance
PopulationEstimate
64.7 million
South Africa's population was 64,747,319 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, South Africa population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$427.2 billion
GDP was US$427.18 billion in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, South Africa GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$6,598
GDP per person was US$6,597.71 in current dollars in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, South Africa GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
1.1%
Real GDP growth was 1.1 percent in 2025, by the World Bank's figure.
Source: World Bank WDI, South Africa real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
4.5%
Annual consumer price inflation was 4.5 percent in September 2026, the rate Statistics South Africa reported on October 21, 2026.
Source: SAnews, Stats SA consumer price inflation, September 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$-2.31 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were negative US$2.31 billion in 2025, per UNCTAD, on an asset and liability basis.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, South Africa (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the South African rand; SARS publishes its trade statistics in rand.
Source: SARS, trade statistics page, 30 October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is InvestSA, which is part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Source: InvestSA, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
InvestSA runs One Stop Shops that house SARS, Home Affairs, CIPC and others under one roof.
Source: InvestSA, One Stop Shop page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
No general list of reserved sectors is published; sector laws set limits, such as the Electronic Communications Act's 20 percent cap, as enacted, on foreign interests in commercial broadcasters.
Source: gov.za, Electronic Communications Act 2005, as enacted (opens in a new tab) · as of April 18, 2006
The dtic counted 12 designated special economic zones on November 20, 2024, and designated a 13th, Fetakgomo Tubatse, on May 22, 2026.
Source: the dtic, SEZ status briefing, 20 November 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 20, 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in South Africa
- Contact InvestSA, which assigns an official and coordinates departments through a One Stop Shop.InvestSAInvestSA services are free of chargeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: InvestSA, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register the company with CIPC.Companies and Intellectual Property CommissionTypically 1 to 5 business days through a One Stop Shop, says InvestSAOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: InvestSA, invest page, setup steps (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register with SARS for income tax, VAT, PAYE and customs as the business needs.South African Revenue ServiceCompulsory VAT registration above R2.3 million of taxable supplies in 12 months, says SARSOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: SARS, Register for VAT, updated October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 8, 2026
- Seek visas for foreign staff; business visa recommendations go through the dtic's online system, and Home Affairs decides visas.Department of Home AffairsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: the dtic, business visa recommendation system, 10 March 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 10, 2025
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Obtain sector licenses and permits, which InvestSA coordinates through the One Stop Shop.InvestSAOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: InvestSA, invest page, setup steps (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- If you are buying a business, check whether the Competition Commission must review the merger.Competition Commission South AfricaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Competition Commission, merger filing page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with InvestSA and SARS. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
InvestSA
Assigns an official to each investor and coordinates government approvals through One Stop Shops.
Visit InvestSA (opens in a new tab)Source: InvestSA, One Stop Shop page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Company registry
CIPC
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission
Registers companies and intellectual property rights and keeps searchable company records.
Visit CIPC (opens in a new tab)Source: CIPC, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Immigration ministry
Home Affairs
Department of Home Affairs
Handles visa and residence applications, including the business visas that the dtic recommends.
Visit Home Affairs (opens in a new tab)Source: InvestSA, invest page, setup steps (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Merger and competition regulator
Competition Commission
Competition Commission South Africa
Reviews mergers that meet the thresholds for competition effects and public interest grounds.
Visit Competition Commission (opens in a new tab)Source: Competition Commission, merger filing page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Find finance
Development finance institution
IDC
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
Provides development finance for industrial projects across South Africa.
Visit IDC (opens in a new tab)Source: IDC, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
SARS
South African Revenue Service
Registers exporters, clears customs declarations, issues certificates of origin and publishes trade statistics.
Visit SARS (opens in a new tab)Source: SARS, exporter registration page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Border control authority
BMA
Border Management Authority
Manages border control at ports of entry, including agricultural biosecurity and port health.
Visit BMA (opens in a new tab)Source: BMA, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Customs union secretariat
SACU
Southern African Customs Union Secretariat
Regional body
Serves the customs union of Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, which negotiates trade agreements as a bloc.
Visit SACU (opens in a new tab)Source: the dtic, trade agreements page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Business federation
BUSA
Business Unity South Africa
Speaks for business in policy and legislative development and works with government on matters of national interest.
Visit BUSA (opens in a new tab)Source: BUSA, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Get advice
National chamber of commerce
SACCI
South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Promotes trade and investment and speaks for business, including start-ups and small companies, to government.
Visit SACCI (opens in a new tab)Source: SACCI, home page, read October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Logistics and border performance
The 2026 Budget Speech says persistent logistics bottlenecks weigh on activity, and that government intends to dismantle bottlenecks in rail and ports.
What to do: Confirm port and rail schedules with your freight forwarder before you commit to delivery dates.
Sources: National Treasury, 2026 Budget Speech, 25 February 2026 (opens in a new tab); SARS, Single Window Project letter, 24 November 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Electricity
The 2026 Budget Speech says government is stabilizing electricity supply and that regulatory reforms have unlocked significant private investment.
What to do: Confirm grid connection and supply terms for your site with the supplier before you commit capital.
Source: National Treasury, 2026 Budget Speech, 25 February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Currency and settlement
National Treasury published draft Capital Flow Management Regulations for comment on April 17, 2026, and said on October 21, 2026 it will revise its approach.
What to do: Confirm current exchange control rules for export proceeds with your authorized dealer bank before you contract.
Sources: Government Gazette 54520, draft capital flow regulations, April 2026 (opens in a new tab); gov.za, Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Public debt and arrears
National Treasury says debt stabilized at 78.4 percent of GDP in 2025/26, in its Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement of October 21, 2026.
What to do: Check the latest Treasury statements when you assess payment risk on public contracts.
Source: gov.za, Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 3 more
Special economic zones
The dtic designated the Fetakgomo Tubatse special economic zone on May 22, 2026, after reporting 12 designated zones in November 2024.
What to do: Confirm a zone's current designation, operator and incentives with the dtic before you choose a site.
Sources: the dtic, Fetakgomo Tubatse SEZ designation, 24 May 2026 (opens in a new tab); the dtic, SEZ status briefing, 20 November 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Merger review and national security
The Commission's copy of the Competition Act, updated to February 2020, shows the national security committee in section 18A as not in effect.
What to do: Ask the Competition Commission whether a national security notification applies to your transaction.
Sources: Competition Commission, copy of Competition Act, 1998 (opens in a new tab); Competition Commission, merger filing page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
The Electronic Communications Act, as enacted, bars a foreigner from controlling a commercial broadcaster or holding over 20 percent of its voting shares or paid-up capital.
What to do: Check your sector's licensing law and regulator for ownership limits before you structure the investment.
Source: gov.za, Electronic Communications Act 2005, as enacted (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare South Africa with other countriesSet South Africa beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
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Promote:South Africa is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.