
Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Act, 1951
Act 51 of 1951
- Published in South African Government Gazette 4663 on 20 July 1951
- Assented to on 18 June 1951
- Commenced on 1 November 1951 by Date of Commencement of the Public Accountants' and Auditors' Act, 1951
- [This is the version of this document from 6 November 2013 and includes any amendments published up to 1 December 2023.]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1956 (Act 47 of 1956) on 22 June 1956]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1957 (Act 64 of 1957) on 1 January 1958]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1962 (Act 30 of 1962) on 23 March 1962]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1965 (Act 68 of 1965) on 4 June 1965]
- [Amended by Transvaal and Natal Societies of Chartered Accountants Act, 1968 (Act 66 of 1968) on 1 February 1970]
- [Amended by General Law Amendment Act, 1971 (Act 80 of 1971) on 14 July 1971]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1975 (Act 53 of 1975) on 18 June 1975]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1979 (Act 91 of 1979) on 29 June 1979]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1982 (Act 42 of 1982) on 24 March 1982]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1983 (Act 12 of 1983) on 24 March 1982]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1984 (Act 48 of 1984) on 11 April 1984]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1985 (Act 51 of 1985) on 8 May 1985]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1986 (Act 45 of 1986) on 30 April 1986]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 9 of 1988) on 16 March 1988]
- [Amended by Accountants’ and Auditors’ and Financial Institutions Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 92 of 1988) on 15 July 1988]
- [Amended by Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone of Namibia Act, 1990 (Act 3 of 1990) on 9 March 1990]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 1994 (Act 10 of 1994) on 20 September 1994]
- [Amended by Public Accountants' and Auditors' Amendment Act, 2013 (Act 10 of 2013) on 6 November 2013]
1. Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates -[definition of “advisory committee” deleted by Act 30 of 1962]“articled clerk” means a person who is duly bound to serve under articles of clerkship;“articles” or “articles of clerkship” means a written contract whereby any person is duly bound to serve another for a specified period and is entitled to receive training in the profession of a public accountant and auditor;“board” means the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ board established under section two;“examining board” means the South African Accountants Societies General Examining Board established in pursuance of an agreement entered into between the four societies and the Rhodesia Society of Chartered Accountants and signed on behalf of the four societies and the said Society during the period between the twentieth day of March and the twenty-ninth day of June, 1942;[definition of “examining board” substituted by Act 53 of 1975]“Institute” means the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia;[definition of “Institute” inserted by Act 10 of 1994]"Minister” means the Minister of Finance;“prescribed” means prescribed by or under this Act;“public accountant” means a person who is engaged in public practice;“public practice” means the practice of a person who performs the functions of an accountant or auditor, and for that purpose holds himself out as an accountant or auditor and places his services at the disposal of the public for reward, but does not include services which are substantially at the command of any one person or of the State;[definition of “public practice” amended by Act 47 of 1956][definition of “Republic” inserted by Act 30 of 1962 and deleted by Act 10 of 1994]“society” means any one of the following societies, which are in this Act collectively referred to as the four societies, namely:(a)The Transvaal Society of Chartered Accountants;(b)The Cape Society of Chartered Accountants;(c)The Natal Society of Chartered Accountants; and(d)The Orange Free State Society of Chartered Accountants.[The definition of “society” is substituted by Act 53 of 1975. The full stop at the end should be a semicolon since the definition is no longer the last one in the list.][definition of “Union” deleted by Act 30 of 1962]“University” means the University of Namibia established by section 2 of the University of Namibia Act, 1992 (Act 18 of 1992)[The definition of “University” is inserted by Act 10 of 1994. There is no full stop after this definition in the Government Gazette.]2. Establishment of Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Board
There is hereby established a board to be known as the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Board, which shall be a body corporate, capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name, and of performing all such acts as are necessary for or incidental to the carrying out of its objects and the performance of its functions and duties under this Act.3. Constitution of board
4. Qualifications of members and vacation office
[The heading, which is substituted by Act 10 of 1994, appears to be missing the word “of” in the phrase “vacation [of] office”.]5. Tenure of office by members of board
6. Chairman and vice-chairman of the board
7. Meetings of board
8. Quorum, majority decision and chairman’s casting vote
9. Reports to Minister
10. Committees of board
11. Funds of board and keeping and audit of accounts
12. Remuneration and allowances of members of board and committees
21. General powers of board
22. Prohibition on practising as public accountant and auditor by unregistered person
After the expiration of a period of six months from the commencement of this Act or such further period as the board may in any particular case allow, no person shall -23. Registration of accountants and auditors
23A. Restrictions in connection with non-resident accountants and auditors
23B. Exemption of certain non-resident accountants and auditors
24. Articles of clerkship
25. Examinations
26. Powers and duties of auditors
26bis. Information to be furnished by accountants and auditors
27. Disciplinary powers of board
28. Enquiry by board
28bis. Suspension from practising of registered accountants and auditors who are mentally disabled
28ter. Privileges of board
No legal proceedings, whether criminal or civil, shall lie against the board or any member or officer thereof in respect of any act or duty performed in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight or twenty-eight bis.[section 28ter inserted by Act 30 of 1962]29. Admission to societies
30. Offences and penalties
31. ***
[section 31 deleted by Act 66 of 1968]32. ***
[section 32 deleted by Act 66 of 1968]33. Application to South-West Africa
This Act shall apply also to the territory of South-West Africa.34. Short title and commencement
This Act shall be called the Public Accountants’ and Auditors’ Act, 1951, and shall come into operation upon a date to be fixed by the Governor-General by proclamation in the Gazette.[The Republic of South Africa Constitution Act 32 of 1961 provided in Article 3(b) that as from 31 May 1961, any reference to the Governor-General in any law in force in the Union of South Africa or in any other territory in respect of which Parliament is competent to legislate shall be construed as a reference to the Republic or the State President as the circumstances may require. However, by this time the Act had already come into operation on a date fixed by the Governor-General.]History of this document
06 November 2013 this version
20 September 1994
09 March 1990
15 July 1988
16 March 1988
30 April 1986
08 May 1985
11 April 1984
24 March 1982
29 June 1979
18 June 1975
14 July 1971
Amended by
General Law Amendment Act, 1971
01 February 1970
04 June 1965
23 March 1962
01 January 1958
22 June 1956
01 November 1951
20 July 1951
18 June 1951
Assented to
Documents citing this one 200
Gazette 112
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1990-12-31 number 132
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1991-12-27 number 330
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1992-04-03 number 384
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1993-08-18 number 687
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1994-02-28 number 810
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1994-05-05 number 845
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1994-09-20 number 922
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1995-02-15 number 1031
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1995-12-01 number 1204
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1995-12-28 number 1226
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1996-11-18 number 1446
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1996-12-12 number 1460
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1996-12-20 number 1467
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1997-05-12 number 1554
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1997-10-10 number 1703
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1997-12-29 number 1761
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1997-12-31 number 1476
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1998-03-09 number 1808
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1998-04-02 number 1832
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1998-04-02 number 1834
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1998-06-23 number 1896
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1998-09-09 number 1949
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1999-09-24 number 2190
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1999-10-15 number 2205
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1999-10-19 number 2210
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1999-10-21 number 2215
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 1999-10-22 number 2217
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2000-01-15 number 2259
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2000-02-08 number 2270
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2000-03-17 number 2290
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2000-06-23 number 2357
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2000-07-18 number 2376
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2000-12-27 number 2458
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2001-05-03 number 2522
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2001-05-14 number 2529
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2001-05-17 number 2532
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2001-06-15 number 2552
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2001-12-22 number 2669
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2001-12-27 number 2673
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2002-11-04 number 2848
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2002-12-27 number 2885
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2003-08-27 number 3050
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2003-12-02 number 3103
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2003-12-29 number 3121
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-07-21 number 3241
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-07-26 number 3246
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-07-27 number 3247
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-07-28 number 3249
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-07-29 number 3250
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-07-30 number 3251
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-12-08 number 3339
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-12-23 number 3356
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-12-28 number 3360
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2004-12-30 number 3362
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2005-08-10 number 3480
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2005-12-09 number 3551
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2005-12-30 number 3569
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2007-07-20 number 3880
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2007-10-18 number 3922
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2007-12-06 number 3948
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2007-12-31 number 3971
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2008-05-06 number 4042
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2009-05-05 number 4253
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2009-11-16 number 4378
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2011-08-18 number 4777
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2012-06-26 number 4973
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2012-11-01 number 5069
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2012-12-07 number 5089
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2012-12-14 number 5096
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2012-12-31 number 5115
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-02-22 number 5139
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-04-19 number 5180
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-05-17 number 5194
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-05-31 number 5205
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-06-14 number 5223
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-08-19 number 5269
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-11-06 number 5334
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2013-12-31 number 5383
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2014-10-08 number 5583
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2014-10-13 number 5588
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2014-10-31 number 5604
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2015-12-31 number 5922
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2016-02-29 number 5955
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2016-06-24 number 6047
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2016-08-25 number 6105
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2016-12-21 number 6202
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2017-09-01 number 6397
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2017-09-27 number 6420
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2017-10-10 number 6437
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2017-11-21 number 6474
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2017-12-12 number 6486
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2017-12-29 number 6500
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2018-08-31 number 6697
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2018-12-13 number 6792
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2018-12-13 number 6793
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2018-12-24 number 6800
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2018-12-28 number 6806
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2019-04-26 number 6886
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2019-11-21 number 7057
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2020-02-04 number 7109
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2020-03-23 number 7152
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2020-04-01 number 7162
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2021-02-01 number 7445
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2021-04-30 number 7521
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2021-10-01 number 7645
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2021-10-01 number 7646
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2021-12-01 number 7693
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2022-03-01 number 7758
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2022-07-28 number 7864
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2023-01-31 number 8020
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2023-07-27 number 8155
- Namibia Government Gazette dated 2023-08-31 number 8192
Judgment 7
- Coffee-Lind and Associates Chartered Accountants and Others v Kotze (LCA 27 of 2017) [2019] NALCMD 10 (15 March 2019)
- De Wilde v Minister of Home Affairs (48 of 2014) [2016] NASC 12 (23 June 2016)
- McLean and Others v Botes (SA 54 of 2019) [2022] NASC 16 (17 May 2022)
- Namibia Financial Exchange (Pty) Ltd v The Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority and Registrar of Stock Exchanges and Others (HC-MD-CIV-MOT-GEN 233 of 2016) [2022] NAHCMD 93 (7 March 2022)
- Van Straten N.O and Another v Namibia Financial Institutions and Another (19 of 2014) [2016] NASC 10 (8 June 2016)
- Van Straten NO and Others v Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority and Others (647 of 2012) [2014] NAHCMD 31 (31 January 2014)
- Wentworth v Institute of Chartered Accountants (HC-MD-CIV-MOT-REV 280 of 2021) [2022] NAHCMD 166 (4 April 2022)
Law Reform Report 2
- Discussion Paper on Issues relating to the Insolvency Act, 1936
- Report on the Road Safety Management Bill
Legislation 79
- Abattoir Industry Act, 1976
- Accreditation Board of Namibia Act, 2005
- Administration of Estates Act, 1965
- Allied Health Professions Act, 2004
- Bank of Namibia Act, 1997
- Bank of Namibia Act, 2020
- Banking Institutions Act, 1998
- Banking Institutions Act, 2023
- Basic Education Act, 2020
- Bills of Exchange Act, 2003
- Building Societies Act, 1986
- Business and Intellectual Property Authority Act, 2016
- Civil Aviation Act, 2016
- Close Corporations Act, 1988
- Co-operatives Act, 1996
- Communications Act, 2009
- Companies Act, 2004
- Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Protection Act, 1994
- Council for Health and Social Services Professions Repeal Act, 2004
- Dairy Industry Act, 1961
- Deposit Guarantee Act, 2018
- Diamond Act, 1999
- Education Act, 2001
- Electoral Act, 2014
- Electricity Act, 2007
- Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia Act, 2001
- Estate Agents Act, 1976
- Financial Institutions and Markets Act, 2021
- Financial Intelligence Act, 2012
- Gaming and Entertainment Control Act, 2018
- Insolvency Act, 1936
- Inspection of Financial Institutions Act, 1984
- Labour Act, 2007
- Long-term Insurance Act, 1998
- Lotteries Act, 2002
- Lotteries Act, 2017
- Marine Resources Act, 2001
- Medical Aid Funds Act, 1995
- Medical and Dental Act, 2004
- Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority Act, 2001
- Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority Act, 2021
- Namibia Industrial Development Agency Act, 2016
- Namibia Institute of Pathology Act, 1999
- Namibia Library and Information Service Act, 2000
- Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation Act, 1998
- Namibia Qualifications Authority Act, 1996
- Namibia Revenue Agency Act, 2017
- Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association Act, 2017
- Namibia Sports Act, 2003
- Namibia Water Corporation Act, 1997
- Namibian College of Open Learning Act, 1997
- Namibian Ports Authority Act, 1994
- National Art Gallery of Namibia Act
- National Disability Council Act, 2004
- National Fishing Corporation of Namibia Act, 1991
- National Housing Enterprise Act, 1993
- Nursing Act, 2004
- Participation Bonds Act, 1981
- Petroleum Products Regulations, 2000
- Pharmacy Act, 2004
- Property Valuers Profession Act, 2012
- Public Procurement Act, 2015
- Regulations made under the Traditional Authorities Act, 2000
- Research, Science and Technology Act, 2004
- Road Fund Administration Act, 1999
- Roads Authority Act, 1999
- Security Enterprises and Security Officers Act, 1998
- Short-term Insurance Act, 1998
- Social Work and Psychology Act, 2004
- Standards Act, 2005
- Statistics Act, 2011
- Stock Exchanges Control Act, 1985
- Town and Regional Planners Act, 1996
- Trust Administration Act, 2023
- Unit Trusts Control Act, 1981
- Usury Act, 1968
- Veterinary and Veterinary Para-Professions Act, 2013
- Virtual Assets Act, 2023
- Vocational Education and Training Act, 2008