What's changed at CSOS: consolidated practice directives and the dispute resolution process

CSOS replaced a scattered set of older directives with one Consolidated Practice Directives document, effective 18 July 2025. It also tightened its dispute resolution procedure, moved scheme registration onto the CSOS Connect platform, and restated that conciliation and adjudication carry a fee under its published fee schedule.

Reviewed by TefCo Compliance Research — last verified 15 September 2026.

In short

The CSOS Consolidated Practice Directives 1 of 2025 took effect on 18 July 2025 and repealed all prior directives and circulars on the same subject matter.
CSOS registration and amendments must now be done through CSOS Connect — manual registration for existing schemes is no longer accepted.
The dispute resolution chapter tightens the assessment stage: submissions are capped, condonation applications now follow an audi alteram partem process rather than being decided ex parte, and conciliators have 24 hours to get a settlement signed before referral to adjudication.
CSOS's own FAQ page quotes conciliation and adjudication fees of R50 and R100 respectively — confirm the current fee schedule directly with CSOS before relying on this for a specific dispute.

One consolidated directive instead of many

Issued under section 36 of the Community Schemes Ombud Service Act 9 of 2011, the Consolidated Practice Directives 1 of 2025 were signed by the Acting Chief Ombud and approved by the regional ombuds, taking effect on 18 July 2025. CSOS describes the document as superseding all previous directives, circulars and guidelines on the same subject matter, and as intended to serve as the single reference point for CSOS practice going forward.

For trustees and managing agents this means older guidance notes and circulars should be treated as replaced — the current directive is the one to check.

Registration and governance documents move fully onto CSOS Connect

CSOS's registration directive confirms that manual registration is no longer accepted for existing schemes, and that all registration and amendment activity must go through the CSOS Connect platform. A CSOS registration certificate and number is issued once a complete application is received, and CSOS commits to a 7 business day turnaround for a fully completed submission.

CSOS also flagged a new registration number format for schemes registered from 2023 onward, distinct from the older format used before that change.

Tighter procedure at the dispute assessment stage

The dispute resolution chapter of the 2025 directive caps a dispute submission at 10 typed pages excluding annexures, and requires personal information in submissions to be redacted in line with POPIA. Case management officers now determine the validity of an application and its jurisdiction before it proceeds, and a request for condonation of a late filing is no longer decided as an ex parte application — it now follows the audi alteram partem principle, meaning the other party gets a chance to respond.

At the conciliation stage, the conciliator has no decision-making power and exists to facilitate an amicable settlement. Once parties reach agreement, they have 24 hours to sign it before the matter is automatically referred on to adjudication.

The directive states it is a consolidation of existing practice rather than a legislative amendment — but it is binding on how CSOS actually processes a case, so scheme executives handling a dispute should read the current directive itself, not older summaries of it.

Fees for conciliation and adjudication

CSOS's own FAQ page describes conciliation and adjudication fees of R50 and R100 respectively. Its 'How to complain' guidance separately describes conciliation and adjudication as free, so the fee position is not entirely consistent across CSOS's own published material. Confirm the fee that currently applies directly with CSOS or on CSOS Connect before lodging a dispute.

Frequently asked

Do older CSOS practice directives still apply?

No — the 2025 Consolidated Practice Directives state they repeal all prior directives, circulars and guidelines on the same subject matter from their effective date of 18 July 2025.

Can a scheme still register with CSOS by emailing a form?

For existing schemes, no — registration and amendments now go through CSOS Connect. Very new schemes may still have a manual pathway in limited cases; confirm the current process with CSOS's regional office.

Are CSOS adjudication decisions final?

An adjudicator's order is final and binding under section 57 of the CSOS Act, and affected parties may only appeal to the High Court, and only on a question of law.

Sources

TefCo Corporate Compliance (Pty) Ltd is a compliance management platform, not a legal, tax or advisory firm. This guide is general information, not advice. Fees, dates and thresholds change — confirm current figures with the regulator before you rely on them.