Royal Charters
A recognised mark for businesses that trade with respect.
In Africa, trust matters.
A Royal Charter is a voluntary standard that recognises businesses that respect traditional leadership, cultural values, and the communities they operate in.
It is not a licence.
It is a signal of how a business chooses to trade.
RACC operates the Royal Charter platform on behalf of ROLESA.
A seal of support for traditional communities
Show it on your products
Royal Charters have long helped customers recognise trusted businesses at a glance.
Today, RACC offers this seal to organisations that support and invest in traditional communities.
Display it to show customers your commitment to culture, community and responsible business.
A Seal of Respect
State agencies and commissions like CIPC and SARS confirm legality. They do not speak to cultural respect or community responsibility.
That is the role of a Royal Charter. A Royal Charter reflects how a business treats the communities it works in.
The Role of RACC
RACC manages the Charter system on behalf of royal leaders. We ensure every certified business is properly vetted, accountable, and trusted by both communities and consumers.
1. A Standard for Doing Business with Customary Communities
Businesses don’t only engage with customary communities in rural areas.
Millions of people who live in towns and cities still identify with, and are guided by, customary leadership and values.
Until now, there has been no recognised standard that shows how a business chooses to engage with these communities, across rural, urban, and commercial spaces.
The Royal Charter provides that standard.
It gives businesses a clear way to demonstrate:
respect for customary leadership and authority,
alignment with shared community values, and
responsible conduct beyond basic legal compliance.
2. How the Royal Charter Platform Works
RACC runs the platform that makes the Charter work consistently. We:
set the Charter standard together with traditional leaders,
use Chartered Business Accountants to do a site visit and assess alignment, and
ensure the recognition means the same thing across regions.
3. Why Businesses Choose to Be Part of It
When there’s no recognised standard:.
good businesses look the same as bad ones,
trust is left to chance, and
long-term players get no credit for doing things properly.
The Royal Charter changes that. It gives responsible businesses a place to stand out, a mark customers can recognise, and a system they can be proud to be part of.
How You Can Take Part
If you care about how customary communities work and grow, there’s a place for you here.
Apply for a
Royal Charter
For businesses that want to be recognised as part of the customary system.
Become a Supporter and donate
Back the platform that keeps customary communities visible and viable.
Choose Chartered Companies
Support the businesses that are officially part of the Royal Charter system.
+27 83 966 4558
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© 2025 Royal Authority for Commerce and Charters. All rights reserved.
Royal Authority for Commerce and Charters NPC (2025/19518508) is the official implementation agency of ROLESA.
Proudly aligned with kingship, community, and cultural governance.