CK Document South Africa: What It Is and How to Get One
The term CK document refers to the founding documents historically issued to close corporations in South Africa. Today, the equivalent for companies is the Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). The forms CK1 and CK2 are still informally referenced when dealing with older close corporations, but new entities use the Companies Act framework and MOI.
What Is a CK Document?
CK documents were the founding documents for close corporations (CCs) registered under the Close Corporations Act 69 of 1984. The CK1 was the founding statement, and the CK2 was used for subsequent changes or amendments to the CC.
Since the Companies Act 71 of 2008 came into full effect, new close corporations can no longer be registered in South Africa. Existing CCs remain valid but cannot be converted back to a CC once converted to a company. The equivalent founding document for all companies is now the Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI).
CK1 vs CK2 — What Each One Is
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| CK1 | Founding statement of a close corporation — establishes the CC, its members, and initial contributions |
| CK2 | Amendment to the founding statement — used to change members, contributions, or other details |
| CK7 | Application for voluntary deregistration of a close corporation |
| MOI | Memorandum of Incorporation — the modern equivalent for companies under the Companies Act |
Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI)
For companies registered after 2011, the MOI replaces all previous founding documents. The MOI sets out the rights, duties, and responsibilities of shareholders, directors, and the company itself.
When registering a new company on Bizportal or CIPC, you either adopt a standard MOI (Schedule 1 of the Companies Act) or customise one. The standard MOI is sufficient for most small businesses.
You can obtain a copy of your company MOI from the CIPC eServices portal by searching for your company.
Third parties such as banks and creditors can also search for and obtain a company or CC disclosure from CIPC to verify registration details.
How to Get a Copy of Your CK Document or MOI
- Go to www.cipc.co.za and log in to your customer account.
- Under eServices, select Company or CC Disclosure.
- Search for your close corporation or company by registration number.
- Purchase the document disclosure. Fees are approximately R50 to R170 depending on the document type.
- The document will be emailed to your registered email address.
Amending a CK Document (CK2)
If a close corporation needs to change its members, the principal business address, or the profit-sharing ratio, the CC must file a CK2 amendment form with CIPC.
CK2 amendments are submitted through the CIPC eServices portal. All existing members must consent to the amendment. The CK2 must be signed and certified.
Converting a Close Corporation to a Company
Existing close corporations may convert to a private company (Pty Ltd) under Section 13 of the Companies Act. This is done by filing a Notice of Conversion with CIPC and adopting a Memorandum of Incorporation.
Many close corporations convert to (Pty) Ltd status for access to better financing and to meet tender requirements that specify company registration.