2012年-世界发展银行全球_Doing_Business_Economy_Profile_2012___South_Africa_103页_2mb

Summary of Doing Business 2012: South Africa

Core Content

The Doing Business 2012 report provides a comprehensive analysis of the regulatory environment for small to medium-sized businesses in South Africa, comparing it with other economies and highlighting key areas for improvement. It measures the ease of doing business across 10 topics, including starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency. The report ranks South Africa 35th out of 183 economies, reflecting improvements in the business environment over the past year.

Main Points

Ease of Doing Business Index

• Rank (2012): 35
• Rank (2011): 36
• Change in Rank: Improved by 1 position.

The index is calculated based on the simple average of percentile rankings on the 10 topics, providing a benchmark for the overall regulatory environment.

Key Indicators for South Africa

Comparators and Regional Performance

• South Africa's ranking is compared with other economies and the regional average to provide a clearer picture of its performance.
• In some areas, South Africa is close to the frontier (best practices), while in others, it lags significantly behind.

Methodology and Limitations

• The report uses standardized assumptions to evaluate the business environment, focusing on a local limited liability company in the largest business city.
• It does not cover all aspects of the business environment, such as market proximity, infrastructure quality, or macroeconomic conditions.
• The distance to frontier measure helps track how far an economy is from the best practices over time.

Business Registration Reforms in South Africa

• DB2012: South Africa improved the ease of starting a business by implementing the new Companies Act 2008, which eliminated the need to reserve a company name and simplified incorporation documents.
• DB2011 and DB2010: No significant reforms were recorded.
• DB2009: Reforms included the removal of the need for legal assistance and notarization of incorporation documents, along with the introduction of electronic submission and publication.

Detailed Procedures for Starting a Business in South Africa

1. Lodge formation documentation with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)

   • Required documents: Notice of Incorporation (CoR 14.1), Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI) (CoR 15.1 A)
   • Time: 5–7 days
   • Cost: ZAR 175

2. Open a bank account

   • Requires proof of directors and original company documents
   • Time: 1–2 days
   • Cost: No charge

3. Register with the South African Revenue Service (SARS)

   • For income tax, VAT, and employee withholding tax (PAYE and SITE)
   • Time: 12 days
   • Cost: No charge

Key Insights

• South Africa has made progress in reducing the number of procedures and time required to start a business, but there is still room for improvement, particularly in areas like getting electricity and paying taxes.
• The report emphasizes the importance of benchmarking against best performers to identify reforms that can enhance the business environment.
• The methodology ensures that comparisons are valid and meaningful, despite not capturing all factors that influence the business climate.