CAPE TOWN FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY

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THE CAPE ARCHIVES

ABOUT THE ARCHIVES

At a recent meeting, Jaco van der Merwe, an archivist at the Cape Archives in Roeland Street, told us about what we could expect to find in the Cape Archives.

He said that the most daunting aspect of genealogy is to find out where the resources are to research. The Archives contain 45 kilometres of records. There are eight floors of strong room storage and it is one of six modern archive buildings in the whole of Africa. The basic source for genealogists is the Death Notice Index which contains death notices from between 1834 and 1958. After 1916, these records are consolidated with estate papers. Wills and distribution accounts are available from about 1689. These are all known as the MOOC series. Currently there is a project to transcribe early estate papers and these will be available at the end of the year on CD or on the internet.

The Archives also has a good library of useful references for genealogists. A lot of research has been done on the Huguenots and on the 1820 British Settlers and also on the German settlers so check what is available before reinventing the wheel!

The Netherlands forefathers have not yet been thoroughly done but this is being worked on. Council of Policy minutes can contain information important to genealogists. Unfortunately the Salary Registers are not here but in Holland, where they are being transcribed.

1/16 series contain permits to remain but do not include British settlers.

The Archives also has three computers that can be used to access genealogical information. Some family sites, such as that for the van Rensburg family, contain very complete family trees.
Genealogy is part of the study of history and if you want to understand the bigger picture, you need to study geography as well.

There is a good selection of atlases, almanacs and directories that can be consulted. Loan farm registers, quitrent registers and Land Board Archives can help trace family movements.

Prices:

Please find below the latest prices on ordering documents from theDepartment of Home AffairsThis is latest fee schedule for ordering of documents from Home Affairs:NOTICE OF FEES PAYABLEThe Director-General of Home Affairs has under section 8 of the Births andDeaths Registration Act, 1992 (Act No. 51 of 1992) and with the concurrenceof the Minister of Finance, determined that with effect from 1 February2008, the fees for the performance of the acts contemplated in section 8 ofthe Act are payable as set out in the Schedule.
(a) The issuing of an abridged birth or death certificate in writing or bymechanical or electronic means (no fee is payable for the issuing of such acertificate on the registration of a birth or death of aperson).................................................... R11-00
(b) The issuing of an unabridged birth or death certificate, a reproductionof the relevant register or any supporting documentation coupled to theregister concerned, as well as verification of information from birth anddeath registers in respect of aperson....................................................... R50-00
(c) An application for any amendment to the birth register of a person,including the noting of the fact of adoption in the birth register of aperson in terms of the Children's Act, 2005 (Act No. 38 of 2005). [no fee ispayable for the re-registration of a birth of a person in terms of section11 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992 (Act No. 51 of1992)]........................................................R58-00
(d) An application for any alteration of the forename or surname of a minoras contemplated in sections 24 and 25 of the Births and DeathsRegistrationAct, 1992 (Act No. 51 of 1992)............... R58-00
(e) An application for any alteration of the forename of a person of age ascontemplated in section 24 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992(no fee is payable for the insertion of the forename or surname of a personof age in the birth register as contemplated in section 23 of the Births andDeaths Registration Act, 1992 (Act No. 51 of 1992) if his or her identitydocument was issued with the forename repeated as asurname)..................................... R90-00
(f) An application by a person for authorization to assume or describe him-or herself by, or pass under, any other surname than that under which he orshe has been included in the population register as contemplated in section26 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1992 (Act No. 51 of 1992) (ifthe applicant is lawfully married, the fee shall include the application ofhis or her spouse, as well as those of any minor, or if the applicant isdivorced, a widow or a widower, the fee shall also include the applicationof his or her minor, ifany)......................................................... R293-00
(g) The issuing of a duplicate confirmation of the change of a major'sforename or surname ................................................... R48-00
(h) No. fee is payable for the furnishing of information for officialpurposes to any State Department, local authority or statutory body ascontemplated in section 29(2) of the Births and Deaths Registration Act,1992 (Act No. 51 of 1992). However, the prescribed fees for abridged andunabridged birth certificates shall be payable if such certificates arerequested.