This practical two-part webinar series covers the full lifecycle of company secretarial services, from incorporation and statutory record-keeping to director duties, beneficial ownership, and governance. Using real-world examples and current regulatory expectations, the series provides actionable guidance to reduce compliance risk and support effective corporate governance.
The webinar series covers the practical delivery of company secretarial services in South Africa, including company incorporation, post-incorporation compliance, statutory registers, CIPC filings, annual returns, and amendments to company records. It further addresses director appointments and duties, beneficial ownership disclosures, board and shareholder resolutions, governance frameworks, and common compliance risks, with a strong focus on real-world application, regulatory expectations, and defensible documentation.
Part 1: Foundations of Company Secretarial Compliance
From Incorporation to Statutory Maintenance
Key Topics Covered
• The legal role of the company secretary vs outsourced company secretarial services
• Types of companies and how secretarial obligations differ
• Incorporation requirements and post-incorporation compliance
• Maintaining statutory registers (directors, shareholders, securities, beneficial ownership)
• Annual returns: timing, supporting disclosures, and common errors
• Director appointments, resignations, and amendments
• MOI basics and when amendments are required
• Practical overview of CIPC systems and filings
• Common compliance failures and CIPC enforcement trends
Practical Focus
• Step-by-step compliance checklist for a standard (Pty) Ltd
• Timeline of annual secretarial obligations
• Examples of incorrect vs compliant statutory records
• Real-world scenarios where poor secretarial compliance created legal and audit risks
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Identify the statutory duties attached to company secretarial services
• Perform and review core CIPC filings confidently
• Maintain compliant statutory records
• Recognise early warning signs of non-compliance
Part 2: Advanced Company Secretarial Practice and Governance
Director Duties, Beneficial Ownership and Risk Management
Key Topics Covered
• Director duties and liabilities under the Companies Act
• Practical implications of sections 75–78 for company secretarial work
• Beneficial ownership requirements: who, what, when, and how
• CIPC beneficial ownership submissions and common findings
• Board resolutions: drafting, approval, and record-keeping
• Delegation of authority and governance frameworks
• Company secretarial services as a risk management tool
• Interaction with auditors, regulators, and stakeholders
• Preparing for CIPC inspections and compliance reviews
Practical Focus
• Sample board and shareholder resolution structures
• Beneficial ownership decision trees and documentation examples
• Governance red-flag checklist for directors and practitioners
• Case studies where secretarial failures resulted in penalties or disputes
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Support directors in meeting their statutory and fiduciary duties
• Correctly identify and record beneficial ownership
• Draft and maintain defensible governance documentation
• Use company secretarial services to reduce regulatory and legal risk
• Company secretaries,
• Assistant company secretaries,
• Accountants,
• Auditors, and
• Accounting officers who support or oversee statutory compliance and governance.
