ERPNext 🇿🇦 South Africa Localization by Cohenix

Overview

ERPNext South Africa Localization by Cohenix provides a structured South African statutory localization layer for ERPNext and Frappe.

The application introduces South Africa-specific configuration models, statutory records, reports, workspaces, setup tools, and accounting integrations to help organizations manage local VAT, payroll, labour, COIDA, and compliance-related processes inside ERPNext.

It is designed for South African businesses, payroll practitioners, accountants, consultants, and implementation teams that need a practical localization foundation while retaining ERPNext’s standard accounting, HR, and operational workflows.

The app can be used with or without HRMS depending on the statutory area being configured. Payroll functionality requires HRMS, while VAT, COIDA, labour, employment equity, SETA, and compliance structures can be used independently where applicable.

Workspace Structure

The application provides dedicated South African workspaces for focused navigation and guided setup:

• SA Overview: Central landing page, setup guidance, onboarding, and cross-module navigation.

• SA VAT: VAT settings, VAT201 working papers, VAT reports, VAT transaction review, and tax-invoice readiness.

• SA Payroll: PAYE, UIF, SDL, ETI, salary processing support, payroll reports, company contributions, and accounting integration.

• SA Labour: SETA, bargaining council, sectoral wage, workplace skills, annual training, business trip, and employment equity support.

• SA COIDA: COIDA settings, industry rates, annual return preparation, workplace injuries, and OID claim tracking.

Setup and Onboarding

The app includes guided setup and onboarding flows to assist with initial South African configuration.

Setup support includes:

• South African workspaces and sidebar navigation

• South African statutory account references

• VAT configuration structures

• Payroll components

• PAYE, UIF, SDL, and ETI setup support

• Tax rebates and medical tax credit structures

• Income tax slabs

• Retirement fund references

• COIDA settings and industry rates

• SETA and bargaining council reference data

• Business trip regions and travel allowance structures

• Labour and employment equity support fields

• Module-specific onboarding checklists

All configuration remains editable and should be reviewed by the responsible practitioner before use in production.

Functional Scope

Accounting and Chart of Accounts

The app provides South Africa-aligned accounting references and account structures to support VAT, payroll, statutory liabilities, employer contributions, and compliance reporting.

It integrates with ERPNext Accounting and can be used with an existing Chart of Accounts.

VAT

The VAT module supports company-specific VAT configuration and VAT201 preparation using ERPNext accounting data as the transaction source.

Included VAT functionality:

• South Africa VAT Settings per company

• VAT account tracking

• VAT201 return working papers

• VAT201 linked transaction review

• VAT account classification reporting

• VAT Analysis

• ERPNext VAT Audit Report integration

• Tax-invoice readiness checks

• Full and abridged tax invoice support

• Manual review and export-oriented VAT201 preparation

Direct SARS submission is not included.

Payroll

The payroll module extends HRMS payroll for South African payroll processing and statutory review.

Included payroll functionality:

• PAYE structures and calculation support

• UIF employee contribution

• UIF employer contribution

• SDL employer contribution

• ETI support

• Retirement fund deduction support

• Medical tax credit support

• Company contribution handling

• Fringe benefit support

• EMP201 preparation

• EMP501 and IRP5/IT3(a) structures

• Payroll Register

• Department Cost Analysis

• Statutory Submissions Summary

• Retirement Fund Deductions report

• Integration with ERPNext General Ledger through Payroll Entry

HRMS is required for payroll execution.

Labour and Employment Equity

The labour module provides support structures for South African labour administration and practitioner working papers.

Included labour functionality:

• SETA reference data

• Bargaining Council records

• Sectoral Minimum Wage records

• Business Trip Settings

• Business Trip records

• Workplace Skills Plan

• Annual Training Report

• Skills Development Records

• Employment Equity workforce reports

• EEA2 and EEA4 support reports

COIDA and Workplace Injury

The COIDA module supports Compensation Fund-related configuration and working papers.

Included COIDA functionality:

• COIDA Settings

• COIDA Industry Rates

• COIDA Annual Return preparation

• Workplace Injury records

• OID Claim tracking

• Injury and claim workflow support

Direct Compensation Fund or eCOID submission is not included.

Reports Included

The app includes and exposes reports across the localization areas, including:

• VAT 201 Linked Transactions

• VAT 201 Account Classifications

• VAT Analysis

• VAT Audit Report

• Payroll Register

• EMP201 Report

• Department Cost Analysis

• Statutory Submissions Summary

• Retirement Fund Deductions

• Income Tax Deductions

• Salary Register

• Bank Remittance

• General Ledger

• Accounts Receivable

• Accounts Payable

• Employment Equity Workforce Profile

• EEA2 Income Differentials

• EEA4 Employment Equity Plan

Compatibility

• Built for ERPNext and Frappe Framework environments

• HRMS is required for payroll processing features

• VAT, COIDA, labour, SETA, employment equity, and compliance structures can be used without HRMS where payroll execution is not required

• Designed to work with ERPNext Accounting, HRMS Payroll, and standard ERPNext document flows

Scope and Exclusions

This application provides localization structures, configuration support, calculation assistance, reports, and statutory working-paper flows.

It does not currently provide:

• Direct SARS eFiling submission

• Direct SARS BRS file submission

• Direct Compensation Fund or eCOID submission

• Automated bank-specific salary payment file formats for every bank

• Automated statutory filing on behalf of the employer

• Legal, tax, accounting, or payroll advisory services

• A guarantee of statutory compliance without practitioner review

Important Compliance and Responsibility Notice

This application is intended to assist with South African localization, statutory configuration, calculation support, reporting, and working-paper preparation inside ERPNext.

Cohenix and EPI-USE do not accept responsibility or liability for incorrect calculations, incorrect configuration, inaccurate statutory submissions, missed deadlines, penalties, losses, or any other consequences arising from the use of this application.

All calculations, reports, statutory values, payroll results, VAT returns, COIDA returns, Employment Equity outputs, and related submissions must be reviewed and validated by a suitably qualified payroll practitioner, accountant, tax practitioner, or responsible employer representative before being used for statutory filing, payment, reporting, or decision-making.

The application does not replace professional judgment, tax advice, payroll review, accounting review, or legal compliance review. Final responsibility for configuration accuracy, calculation validation, legislative interpretation, statutory submissions, and compliance remains with the employer and the appointed practitioner.

Community and Contribution

South African statutory compliance is complex and changes over time.

Cohenix welcomes feedback, testing, issue reports, and contributions from the ERPNext community, payroll practitioners, accountants, and implementation partners to improve the accuracy, coverage, and long-term sustainability of South African localization for ERPNext.