Guides for South African small businesses
Plain-language guides to the rules South African small businesses deal with, researched from Acts and official government sources. Each guide lists its sources and the date they were last checked. They are general information, not legal advice.
What Is POPIA? A Guide for South African Small Businesses
What is POPIA? The Protection of Personal Information Act for SA small businesses: who it covers, the eight conditions, information officers and fines.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →What Is an Acknowledgement of Debt in South Africa?
What an acknowledgement of debt is, what it usually records, and what the Magistrates' Courts Act and Prescription Act say about written debt admissions.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →What Should Be in an Employment Contract in South Africa?
What an employment contract in South Africa should cover: the written particulars in section 29 of the BCEA, when to update them and how long to keep them.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →Notice Periods in South Africa: 1, 2 or 4 Weeks? (BCEA)
How much notice is required? BCEA section 37: 1 week in the first 6 months, 2 weeks up to a year, then 4 weeks. Covers resignations and notice pay.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →Registering as an Employer in SA: UIF, COIDA and PAYE
UIF registration, COIDA registration and PAYE for new South African employers: who registers where, the deadlines, and the monthly returns that follow.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →Annual Leave in South Africa: What the BCEA Says
Annual leave in South Africa under the BCEA: the 21 consecutive days, the 1-in-17 alternatives, when leave is taken and paid, and pay-outs on termination.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →Certificate of Service in South Africa: What to Include
What a certificate of service must state under section 42 of the BCEA, when the employee is entitled to one, and how it differs from a reference letter.
Sources checked 6 Oct 2026 Read the guide →