South Africa: Investor’s Handbook 2014/15 Handbook Investor’s Africa: South South Africa: Investor’s Handbook 2014/15 Foreword and Author’s Value Fast facts about General information South Africa: An economic Regulatory requirements South African Incentives and Contacts in Acronyms and Addendums: Indicative costs and other practical Contents Foreign trade contact details proposition South Africa about South Africa overview in South Africa taxation industrial financing South Africa abbreviations aspects vof doing business and living in South Africa Foreword It is with great pride that the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) and Deloitte bring you this updated edition of South Africa: Investor’s Handbook. South Africa has a number of characteristics that make it a compelling investment destination on the African continent. The Handbook provides investors with a broad overview of the social, regulatory and economic environment in which they can expect to operate, highlighting the key features and investment incentives that we believe make doing business in South Africa an attractive proposition. It is hoped that this publication will serve as the single most comprehensive and authoritative source of information for investors, exporters and businesses arriving at our shores. Please contact us for further information and advisory support. The Department of Deloitte Trade and Industry (the dti): South Africa: Private Bag X84 Private Bag X6, Gallo Manor, Pretoria Johannesburg 0001 2052 National: Tel: 0861 843 384 +27 11 806 5000 International: Fax: +27 12 394 9500 +27 11 806 5003 E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] / [email protected] www.thedti.gov.za www.deloitte.com/za Foreword and Author’s Value Fast facts about General information South Africa: An economic Regulatory requirements South African Incentives and Contacts in Acronyms and Addendums: Indicative costs and other practical Contents Foreign trade contact details proposition South Africa about South Africa overview in South Africa taxation industrial financing South Africa abbreviations aspects vof doing business and living in South Africa Contents 1. Value proposition 1 1.1. Why invest in South Africa? 1 2. Fast facts about South Africa 2 2.1. Political 2 2.2. Economic 3 2.3. Business 4 2.4. Tourism 4 2.5. Sport 5 2.6. Education 5 2.7. Environmental 6 2.8. Social and infrastructure 6 2.9. Miscellaneous 7 3. General information about South Africa 10 3.1. Introduction 10 3.2. Infrastructure 13 3.3. Art, culture and sport 16 3.4. Food and drink 18 3.5. Education 18 3.6. Law 19 3.7. Industrial relations 20 3.8. Immigration - Visas and permits 21 3.9. Immigration - Other practical aspects 28 3.10. Stock exchange 34 3.11. Key economic data 35 3.12. Overview of the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) 36 4. South Africa: An economic overview 39 4.1. Key drivers of the South African economy 39 5. Foreign trade 54 5.1. South Africa’s trade agreements 54 5.2. Exchange controls 61 5.3. Importing and exporting 67 Disclaimer 6. Regulatory requirements in South Africa 80 Unless otherwise stated, the information in this Handbook 6.1. Corporate regulations 80 is based on conditions that existed in December 2014. The 6.2. Banking 91 authors accept no responsibility for any errors this guide 6.3. Money laundering 96 6.4. Labour regulations 97 may contain, whether caused by negligence or otherwise, or 6.5. Industrial procurement 106 for any loss, however caused, sustained by any person that 6.6. Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) 107 relies on the information herein. While all attempts have been 6.7. Intellectual property 116 made to provide up-to-date statistics and other details, this 6.8. Consumer protection law 123 6.9. Competition law 127 Handbook is not exhaustive and readers are advised to consult 6.10. Environmental law 128 with their advisors and/or the relevant government agency. 6.11. Climate change policy and regulations 135 6.12. Information, communication and technology law 137 6.13. Land regulations 138 Foreword and Author’s Value Fast facts about General information South Africa: An economic Regulatory requirements South African Incentives and Contacts in Acronyms and Addendums: Indicative costs and other practical Contents Foreign trade contact details proposition South Africa about South Africa overview in South Africa taxation industrial financing South Africa abbreviations aspects vof doing business and living in South Africa 1. Value proposition 7. South African taxation 143 1.1. Why invest in South Africa? It has political and macroeconomic stability, an 7.1. Corporate taxation 143 abundant supply of semi-skilled and unskilled 7.2. Transaction taxes 163 South Africa is one of the most sophisticated, labour, and compares favourably to other 7.3. Personal taxation - Individuals 168 diverse and promising emerging markets emerging markets in terms of the overall cost 7.4. Employment tax 179 globally. Strategically located at the tip of of doing business. For both professional and 8. Incentives and industrial financing 185 the African continent, South Africa is a key manufacturing jobs, labour costs have also 8.1. Overview 185 investment location, both for the market historically been very competitive and less costly 8.2. Investment and enterprise development incentives 186 opportunities that lie within its borders and as a than that of European countries. 8.3. Competitive enhancement incentives 193 gateway to the rest of the continent, a market 8.4. Export incentives - Non-industry specific 196 of approximately one billion people. The South African Government has introduced 8.5. Export incentives - Industry specific 200 wide-ranging legislation to promote training 8.6. Industrial financing 203 South Africa is the economic powerhouse of 8.7. Industrial participation 212 and skills development and fast-track the 8.8. Social responsibility 213 Africa and forms part of the BRICS group of building of world-class skills and competences. 8.9. Tax incentives 214 countries with Brazil, Russia, India and China. It has a favourable demographic profile and One of the main reasons for South Africa 9. Contacts in South Africa 226 its rapidly expanding middle class has growing becoming one of the most popular trade and 9.1. Business information services 226 spending power. investment destinations in the world is due 9.2. Banking 228 to the country ensuring that it can meet the 9.3. Chambers of commerce and industry 232 South Africa has a wealth of natural resources specific trade and investment requirements of 9.4. Investment promotion agencies 233 (including coal, platinum, gold, iron ore, 9.5. Government departments 235 prospective investors. manganese nickel, uranium and chromium) and 10. Acronyms and abbreviations 238 it has been enjoying increased attention from South Africa has a host of investment incentives international exploration companies, particularly and industrial financing interventions that are 11. Addendums: Indicative costs and other practical aspects in the oil and gas sector. In agriculture and aimed at encouraging commercial activity of doing business and living in South Africa 249 agro-processing, South Africa is recognised as a and its trade rules favour a further expansion 11.1. Addendum 1: Telecommunication costs 249 leader in the region. in South Africa’s burgeoning levels of 11.2. Addendum 2: Fuel costs 253 international trade. 11.3. Addendum 3: Water tariffs 255 It has world-class infrastructure, exciting 11.4. Addendum 4: Cost of living comparison 255 innovation, research and development The special International Headquarter Company 11.5. Addendum 5: Education costs 258 capabilities and an established manufacturing (IHQ) regime makes South Africa an attractive 11.6. Addendum 6: Cost of office space and industrial land 264 location for multinational companies wanting to 11.7. Addendum 7: Ease of Doing Business (DB) in South Africa 269 base. South Africa has a strong tertiary 11.8. Addendum 8: National remuneration data 272 education sector that ensures the availability of invest into Africa. 11.9. Addendum 9: Transportation costs for goods 275 highly skilled graduates, and it is at the forefront 11.10. Addendum 10: Cost of electricity in major centres 283 South Africa is serviced by a multitude 11.11. Addendum 11: Immigration – Permits and visas 296 of the development and rollout of new green of international airlines, with good flight 11.12. Addendum 12: Customs and excise regulations – technologies and industries, creating new and connections into the rest of the continent, and Guidelines for immigrants and travellers 302 sustainable jobs in the process and reducing its unrivalled scenic beauty and reputation for 11.13. Addendum 13: How to apply for an energy connection 307 environmental impact. 11.14. Addendum 14: How to apply for a water connection 309 delivering value-for-money, make it an attractive 11.15. Addendum 15: How to apply for an environmental impact South Africa has sophisticated financial, legal leisure and business travel destination. assessment (EIA) 310 11.16. Addendum 16: How to obtain a mining permit/right 316 and telecommunications sectors, and a number of global business process outsourcing (BPO) operations are located in the country. 1 Foreword and Author’s Value Fast facts about General information South Africa: An economic Regulatory requirements South African Incentives and Contacts in Acronyms and Addendums: Indicative costs and other practical Contents Foreign