This is the version of this Act as it was from 5 September 1995 to 4 September 1996. Read the latest available version.
South Africa
Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992
Act 51 of 1992
- Published in Government Gazette 13953 on 6 May 1992
- Assented to on 26 April 1992
- Commenced on 1 October 1992 by Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992: Commencement
- [This is the version of this document as it was from 5 September 1995 to 4 September 1996.]
- [Amended by General Law Third Amendment Act, 1993 (Act 129 of 1993) on 1 September 1993]
- [Amended by Home Affairs Laws Rationalisation Act, 1995 (Act 41 of 1995) on 5 September 1995]
1. Definitions
In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—“birth”, in relation to a child, means the birth of a child born alive;“burial” means burial in earth or the cremation or any other mode of disposal of a corpse;“burial place” means any public, private or other place which is used for a burial;“corpse” means any dead human body, including the body of any still-born child;“Department” means the Department of Home Affairs;“Director-General” means the Director-General: Home Affairs;“fingerprints” includes palmprints;“forename” means the word or words by which a person is designated as an individual and which precede his surname;“major” or “person of age” means any person who has attained the age of 21 years or who has under the provisions of section 2 of the Age of Majority Act, 1972 (Act No. 57 of 1972), been declared to be a major, and includes a person under the age of 21 years who has contracted a legal marriage;"medical practitioner" includes a suitably qualified person who, on the recommendation of the Director-General: Health by virtue of such person’s medical knowledge or experience, is appointed by the Director-General;[definition of "medical practitioner" inserted by section 3 of Act 41 of 1995]“Minister” means the Minister of Home Affairs;“minor” or “minor person” means any person who is not a major or a person of age;“police officer” means a member of the Force as defined in section 1 of the Police Act, 1958 (Act No. 7 of 1958);“population register” means the population register mentioned in the Identification Act, 1986 (Act No. 72 of 1986);“prescribed” means prescribed under this Act or any regulation;“regional" representative” means any person designated as a regional representative under section 21(1)(a) of the Identification Act, 1986 (Act No. 72 of 1986);“registration”, in relation to a birth or a death, means the registration thereof mentioned in section 5;“regulation” means a regulation made and in force under this Act;“still-born”, in relation to a child, means that it has had at least 26 weeks of intra-uterine existence but showed no sign of life after complete birth, and “still-birth”, in relation to a child, has a corresponding meaning;“this Act” includes the regulations.Chapter I
Administration
2. Application of Act
The provisions of this Act shall apply to all South African citizens, whether in the Republic or outside the Republic, including persons who are not South African citizens but who sojourn permanently or temporarily in the Republic, for whatever purpose.3. Director-General to administer Act
The Director-General shall be charged with the administration of this Act.4. Transfer of powers and duties
5. Custody of records and registration of births and deaths
6. Reproduction of documents
7. Verification, supplementation and rectification of particulars
8. Fees payable
The Director-General may with the concurrence of the Minister of State Expenditure determine the fees payable for any specified act performed in accordance with the provisions of this Act by the Director-General or any person contemplated in section 4, and shall publish such fees in the Gazette.Chapter II
Registration of births
9. Notice of birth
10. Notice of birth of illegitimate child
11. Amendment of birth registration of illegitimate child
12. Notice of birth of abandoned child
The notice of birth of an abandoned child which has not yet been given, shall be given, after an enquiry in respect of the child concerned in terms of the Child Care Act, 1983 (Act 74 of 1983), by the social worker or authorized officer concerned: Provided that in the event of any parent of the child being traced after the registration of the birth and the particulars in any document or record in respect of the child not being reflected correctly, the Director-General may on application amplify and correct the said particulars.13. Birth outside the Republic
If a child of a father or a mother who is a South African citizen is born outside the Republic, notice of birth may be given to the head of a South African diplomatic or consular mission, or a regional representative in the Republic.Chapter III
Registration of deaths
14. Death due to natural causes
15. Certificate by medical practitioner
16. Duty of police officer on receipt of certain information
Whenever a police officer receives information mentioned in section 14(3) or (4), 15(3) or 18(4) or (5), he shall act in terms of the provisions of section 3 of the Inquests Act, 1959 (Act No. 58 of 1959).17. Death due to other than natural causes
18. Still-birth
19. Death outside the Republic
20. Burial order
21. Burial register
Any person having charge of a burial place shall maintain a burial register in which he shall enter from the burial order the prescribed particulars regarding every burial in such burial place.22. Issuing of death certificate
After a death has been registered in terms of this Act, the Director-General shall issue a prescribed death certificate.Chapter IV
General
23. Amplification of birth registrations
If the birth of any person was registered before the commencement of this Act without the assignment to him of any forename or surname, any parent or his guardian if he is a minor, or he himself if he is a person of age, may apply to the Director-General for the amplification of the registration of his birth by the entry of his forename or surname in connection therewith, and the Director-General shall thereupon, if satisfied that the applicant is competent to make the application, so amplify the birth register in respect of such person.24. Alteration of forename
25. Alteration of surname of minor
26. Assumption of another surname
27. Publishing of alterations and amplifications of forenames and surnames
In the case of an alteration or amplification of forename or surname mentioned in sections 23, 24(1) and 26(2), the Director-General shall as soon as possible after such alteration or amplification has been authorized, cause any such alteration or amplification which relates to a person of age, to be published in the prescribed manner by notice in the Gazette.28. Issuing of certificates
29. Secrecy
30. Exemption from stamp duties
No stamp duty shall be payable for the purposes of this Act.31. Offences, penalties and evidence
32. Regulations
33. Repeal and amendment of Acts, and savings
34. Short title
This Act shall be called the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992, and shall come into operation on a date fixed by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.History of this document
01 March 2014
15 March 2004
19 March 2002
04 February 1999
04 September 1998
03 December 1997
05 September 1996
05 September 1995 this version
Amended by
Home Affairs Laws Rationalisation Act, 1995
01 September 1993
01 October 1992
06 May 1992
Published in Government Gazette 13953
Read this version
26 April 1992
Assented to
Cited documents 9
Act 9
1. | Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 | 2143 citations |
2. | Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 | 1658 citations |
3. | Children's Act, 2005 | 568 citations |
4. | Immigration Act, 2002 | 319 citations |
5. | Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, 1998 | 183 citations |
6. | Inquests Act, 1959 | 138 citations |
7. | Marriage Act, 1961 | 119 citations |
8. | Civil Union Act, 2006 | 52 citations |
9. | Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, 2003 | 6 citations |
Documents citing this one 1185
Gazette 1145
Judgment 24
By-law 11
Act 5
1. | Children's Act, 2005 | 568 citations |
2. | Unemployment Insurance Act, 2001 | 188 citations |
3. | Refugees Act, 1998 | 181 citations |
4. | South African Citizenship Act, 1995 | 115 citations |
5. | Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act, 2003 | 6 citations |