The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (“CIPC”) has issued a notice confirming that it is conducting routine inspections of Beneficial Ownership (“BO”) records to verify that information submitted by companies is accurate and complete.
A key point for companies to note is that, where a company is selected for inspection, all directors are required to personally attend the inspection. Attendance by company secretarial professionals, consultants or other representatives does not replace the directors’ attendance requirement.
Inspections may be conducted physically or virtually, and CIPC may request access to records including the company’s Beneficial Ownership information, securities and beneficial interest registers, shareholding structure, director register and supporting documentation relating to ultimate beneficial owners.
What should companies do?
Companies should take this opportunity to review their Beneficial Ownership records and ensure that all information submitted to CIPC is accurate, complete and up to date, together with the relevant supporting documentation.
CIPC has further reminded entities that non-compliance with Beneficial Ownership filing and record-keeping requirements may result in regulatory enforcement action, including compliance notices and administrative penalties.
If your company is selected for a CIPC inspection, please ensure that the directors are available to attend and participate in the inspection.
Read the full notice here → https://www.cipc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Notice-36-of-2026.pdf