You are correct that in much of the world uses "class ratings" for SEP - my JAA licence shows SEP as a class rating, and my FAA SEL, and whilst good practice is to get checked out by a grown up, it's seldom legally mandatory - certainly below 2000kg. This is, I think, a peculiarity of the South African licencing system.
NZ has a similar system - although not universally implemented it would seem. As mentioned and when I had a JAA licence I had 'SEP'. But now I have NZ licences, I have individual rating for PA28 for 140, 151, 161 & 181...... also C152 & C172 all separately annotated on my licence!!