S&Z is the leading patent firm for filing South African patents

The top four filers of South African patents for the past 40 months (1 January 2022 to 30 April 2025) were:

Sibanda & Zantwijk is consistently the leading South African patent firm when it comes to South African patent filings.

Benefiting from its focus on online systems

S&Z has consolidated its #1 position by focussing on online systems. Its collaboration with GlobalIPCo – an IP platform that focusses on Africa – has enabled S&Z to create African patent and trademark products that attract the 98% of PCT applicants that previously ignored Africa.

Instead of competing for a share of the trickle of patents that flow into Africa, S&Z focusses on opening the tap and gaining from the growth in African filings.

New IP Product: The SANi combination patent / trademark combines South African and Nigerian patents / trademarks. It is regarded as the “best option for Africa” – covering 44% of sub-Sahara African GDP (greater than ARIPO and OAPI combined).

Integration with African Patent / Trademark Offices: By automating the filing and prosecution process and integrating as much as possible with the systems of African patent and trademarks offices, S&Z and GlobalIPCo have increased efficiency of African filings and shortened the time from filing to grant.

Reduced cost: Increasing the efficiency of African patent and trademark filings has enabled S&Z and GlobalIPCo significantly to reduce the cost of African patents and trademarks. Further, by offering pre-payment of patent renewals for the entire 20-year term (Vicennial Renewal), the lifetime cost of African patents can be reduced by about 75%.

Online renewal system: By automating South African patent and trademark renewals and reducing renewal costs to below $50, S&Z now manages renewal of more than 13,000 patents through its online renewal system.