If you are considering opening a joint account in South Africa, please note that South African law does not allow the "joint account", but there is a provision for accounts that will have all your money for which you can grant access to your partner or spouse, but in reality, the account is in the name of one person and the other person simply have signing power.

If you're an adult over the age of 18 with some degrees of income from a company or a job, you would definitely need to have a bank account to avoid the stress of transferring money unnecessarily.

There are more than 11 local South African banks and more than 45 foreign-controlled banks in South Africa. This can make choosing banks a bit difficult, especially for a foreigner. As a guide, there are 4 largest banks in South Africa: ABSA, FNB, Standard Bank, and Nedbank that provide similar services, but keep in mind that some of these "big" and safer banks usually charge some extra fees for many services you can get it for free at other less internationally recognized brands.

A South African bank account can be set up in 2 main categories: resident or non-resident and this depends on whether you reside in South Africa or abroad. It is also possible to open a bank account in South Africa as a foreigner.

Meanwhile, for all bank accounts, there are basic requirements that include the following:

Proof of identity: Can be in the form of an original and valid passport or other acceptable forms of official identification.

Proof of address: This can be a utility bill or a previous bank statement.
Statement or reference from your current bank (as a form of reference).

Cash or bank draft for account opening: This is the initial money that will be deposited into your account to activate it.

Letter from your current employer confirming that you work with them and your monthly salary.