Searching the collections
When is the National Archives Reading Room open for use by the public?
We are open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00 and on the first Saturday of each month, excluding January when we are not open on any Saturday.
Where can I find Birth Certificates?
Birth Certificates are kept by the Department of Home Affairs and not the National Archives Repository. You will have to contact them for copies of Birth Certificates. The contact details of the Customer Centre at the Department of Home Affairs are 0800 60 11 90 or e-mail hacc@dha.gov.za
Where can I find Marriage Certificates?
Marriage Certificates are kept by the Department of Home Affairs and not the National Archives Repository. You will have to contact them for copies of Marriage Certificates. The contact details of the Customer Centre at the Department of Home Affairs are 0800 60 11 90 or e-mail hacc@dha.gov.za
Where can I find Death Certificates?
Death Certificates are kept by the Department of Home Affairs and not the National Archives Repository. You will have to contact them for copies of Death Certificates. The contact details of the Customer Centre at the Department of Home Affairs are 0800 60 11 90 or e-mail hacc@dha.gov.za
Where can I find divorce decrees?
a. Depends on the period, and place where divorce took place, for the period 1984 dating backwards, the divorce cases are with the National Archives, the decrees can be obtained amongst the records.
b. For the period after 1982 for Pretoria region the records are still with the Master of High Court, for the Johannesburg region from 1985 those records are with the department of Justice/ Master of the Johannesburg High Court.
What information does National Archives have on Archives of the Department of Indian Affairs collection?
The Archives of the Indian Affairs collection consists of correspondence, that relates to why was the department formed, with the purpose of promoting the government policy in the development of the Indian population group to self-determination. The following were the main functions of the Department:
• The Department promoted the establishment and development of educational opportunities at all levels for the Indian population group, to ensure their full development to self-sufficiency.
• Promoted economic, political and social development. Rendered statutory administrative services in connection with the issue of passports and travel documents to the Indian population, on behalf of the former Department of the Interior; provided liaison between the Indian community and other Departments and Organizations, as well as Welfare and Social Services for the Indian Community
• Provided administrative services for the effective functioning of the Department, this collection covers the activities of the department during the period of 1910-1983
How does National Archives assist with land claims?
We have collections such as the Archives of the Native Affairs/Bantu Affairs, that relate to the issues of land claim. There are RAK/Farm registers that one can utilise to get the land claims sorted.
Can I transfer my collection to the National Archives?
For the past 20 years we have not been able to take on any new transfers due to space constraints, the building is full to capacity and cannot accommodate new transfers.
Which collections have been digitised?
The Percy Yutar collection/ The Rivonia Trial 1963/64. Convention for a Democratic South Africa; Multi-Party Negotiating Process; Archives of the Constitutional Assembly. Some of these have been published to the website. Meanwhile, digitisation of other collections continues at the National Archives.