Just to correct something what Andromeda said. SARS registers qualifying NPO's as a PBO (Public Benefit Organization). Depending under which section you qualify as a PBO, you can get income tax exemption. This is the unit that Andromeda speaks of, which is in Pretoria. NPO's fall under Department of Social Development. A NPO can have one of three forms a)NPC; b)Trust or c) Association. So if you really want to have lots of numbers: A NPC will have a company registeration number from CIPC and then can register as NPO with Dept of Social Development and get a NPO number and then lastly register as a PBO and get a PBO number. Being a NPC does not automatically mean get a NPO or PBO number.