THE SHORT VERSION
THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL KEEPS THE LEGAL LAND RECORD.
The Surveyor-General’s offices regulate cadastral surveys and preserve the diagrams, general plans, sectional title plans and supporting survey records used in South Africa’s land registration system. They examine and approve cadastral documents before registration and supply copies of records held by the office.
An SG diagram describes a registered property figure. It does not show every building, wall, kerb, service, contour or current feature on the site. That is where a measured topographical, construction or verification survey may be needed.
Primary source: Chief Surveyor-General — role of the Surveyor-General ↗
01 / THE OFFICE
WHAT DOES THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL DO?
Under South Africa’s cadastral system, the office is concerned with surveyed real rights and the integrity of the official land record. Its functions include:
- examining and approving diagrams and general plans before registration;
- preserving survey records and keeping cadastral information up to date;
- maintaining cadastral maps in paper and digital form;
- supplying copies of diagrams, plans and other public records; and
- providing cadastral information and guidance about records held by the office.
A cadastral record defines registered property and real rights. A site survey records physical conditions for a particular project. The two may need to be read together, but they are not interchangeable.
02 / THE DOCUMENTS
SG DIAGRAM, GENERAL PLAN OR SECTIONAL PLAN?
SG diagram
The fundamental registrable cadastral document for a property or surveyed real right. It typically records the property designation, boundary figure, beacon descriptions, numerical boundary data and area.
General plan
A plan showing two or more pieces of land together. It is commonly associated with larger subdivisions and township layouts and receives its own Surveyor-General reference.
Sectional title plan
A plan used for a sectional title scheme. It shows the sections and common property, with the required cadastral relationship between the buildings and the land.
Survey records
The supporting observations, beacon coordinates, working plans, comparisons and land surveyor’s report lodged with the Surveyor-General during cadastral examination.
WHAT IS AN SG NUMBER?
An SG number—or Surveyor-General document number—is the reference allocated to a diagram or plan. If you already have that number, the official document search is normally the most direct route. Enter it using the exact syntax shown on the referencing document.
Primary sources: official diagram explanation ↗ · survey documents and records ↗
03 / FIND THE RECORD
HOW TO SEARCH FOR AN SG DIAGRAM.
- 01
Collect the property description
Use the province and the registered description—not only a street address. For an urban property, this usually means township, erf and portion. For a rural property, use the farm name or number, registration division and portion.
- 02
Choose the right official search
If you have an SG document number, search by document number. If you only have the property description, search by province, rural or urban classification, town or region, parcel number and portion.
- 03
Check the result carefully
Similar names and parcel numbers can produce more than one result. Confirm the province, property designation, portion and document type before relying on or downloading a record.
- 04
Keep the official reference
Save the SG number and document details with the file. A cropped image or plan forwarded without its reference is harder to verify later.
Website availability and records can change. If an online search does not return the expected document, contact the relevant Surveyor-General data office or ask an appropriately registered land surveyor to obtain and interpret the cadastral information.
04 / PAPER VERSUS GROUND
WHAT AN SG DIAGRAM CANNOT PROVE BY ITSELF.
An approved diagram is authoritative cadastral information, but reading the document is not the same as confirming conditions on the ground. By itself, it does not establish that:
- a beacon is still present, undisturbed or correctly identified;
- a wall or fence follows the legal boundary;
- buildings, roads, services and other features are in the positions shown on another drawing;
- the ground levels or contours remain as previously measured;
- a proposed design will fit the current site; or
- construction has been set out or built to the required position and level.
Legal boundary determination, beacon relocation and cadastral work must be handled by an appropriately registered land surveyor. Mini Civils does not present this guide as a cadastral boundary service.
05 / THE RIGHT NEXT STEP
RECORD, BOUNDARY OR SITE SURVEY?
06 / COMMON QUESTIONS
SURVEYOR-GENERAL FAQ.
Is “Surveyor General” a type of private surveyor?
No. In this context, the Surveyor-General is a statutory government office within South Africa’s cadastral and land information system. A private practitioner may be a registered land surveyor or provide other types of surveying services, but should not present themselves as the Surveyor-General.
Can I search using only a street address?
The official cadastral search is built around registered property descriptions. A street address may help you identify the property, but the township or farm information, erf or parcel number and portion are more reliable search inputs.
Does the area on an SG diagram equal the area measured from a fence?
Not necessarily. The SG diagram records the cadastral property area. A fence or wall may not coincide exactly with the legal boundary, and physical measurements can be affected by what is accessible and visible on site.
Can Mini Civils replace a missing boundary beacon?
This guide does not offer cadastral beacon relocation. A legal boundary or lost-beacon matter should be referred to an appropriately registered land surveyor.
When can Mini Civils help?
Mini Civils can help when the requirement is to measure current site features and levels, set out construction positions or verify completed work—subject to an agreed scope and the type of survey required.
FROM THE RECORD TO THE REAL SITE
HAVE THE SG INFORMATION—BUT NEED THE SITE MEASURED?
Send Corrie the property location, the documents you already have and what you are designing, building or checking. Mini Civils will tell you whether a topographical, construction or verification survey fits the requirement.
DISCUSS YOUR SITE →Official references used for this guide
- Role of the Surveyor-General
- Survey documents and records
- Chief Surveyor-General record search
- Land Survey Act 8 of 1997
Last reviewed: 17 October 2026. External government pages and search procedures may change.