South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland have no exchange control restrictions between them by virtue of their membership of the Common Monetary Area. The Competition Board exists to prevent restrictive business practices and the creation of monopolies and new competition legislation now also provides for merger control. The Securities Regulation Panel regulates acquisitions and takeovers of all public companies and large private companies where a change in control occurs. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange has regulations governing dealings in securities listed on it. Intellectual Property Protection is provided by statute for patents, trademarks, copyright and designs.
Registries There are public registries for trademarks, designs and patents.
South Africa is a signatory of the Berne and Paris Conventions. A tax holiday is available to manufacturing companies on certain conditions. Accelerated write offs of new manufacturing plant and new manufacturing buildings and improvements and a tax free grant for manufacturing processing or assembling operations by small and medium sized companies are available. Financing at reduced interest rates may be obtained from the Industrial Development Corporation. Marketing assistance and export credit guarantee schemes are available for exporters.