Shareholder
Quick Answer
What is Shareholder?
A shareholder is an owner of shares in a company – entitled to dividends and votes in proportion to their holding.
Shareholder explained
Shareholders own the company but do not run it day to day; directors do. Ownership of 5% or more makes a natural person a declarable beneficial owner.
Who it applies to: Owners of companies.
Cost: N/A.
Related terms and guides
Official source: CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission)
Always verify this information with official South African government sources. Rules, fees and thresholds change. Check SARS, CIPC, the Department of Employment and Labour or gov.za before you act.
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Last reviewed: September 2026 by the BizAnswers editorial team. How we write and check our guides.