The long-troubled Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is finally out of the doldrums, having received a clean audit for the first time from the auditor-general for its 2016-17 financial statements. Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies says the turnaround has been "quite significant". "It has moved into a leaner, digitised much more effective, well-functioning entity," he said. Processes had been digitised to expedite applications and it was now possible in some cases to register a company "within a matter of hours", Davies said in an interview on Thursday. "Digitisation has resulted in a major improvement in services." In the past, long delays in getting registrations effected by the CIPC and computer downtimes were a cause of frustration for business and professionals acting for business. So far, 21% of all the CIPC’s services have the option to file electronically. According to the organisation’s annual report tabled in Parliament, 374,844 companies were regist...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.