Death certificate how to
The death of a loved one is always difficult to deal with, and applying for a death certificate can be made easier if you know what to take with you to the Home Affairs office.
According to the Births and Deaths Registration Act, a person’s death must be reported to any one of the following people:
* specific officers at the Department of Home Affairs,
* South African police members, especially in areas where the Department of Home Affairs has no offices,
* South African mission, embassy or consulate, if the death occurred abroad,
* funeral undertakers who are appointed and recognised by the law.
The notification of death or still-birth (form BI-1663) must be completed when reporting a death.
“Different people need to complete different parts of the form,” says Dirk Janse van Noordwyk of the Nigel branch of Home Affairs.
These people are, the person reporting the death, a medical practitioner (where a medical practitioner is not available to complete this form, in rural areas for example, a traditional leader may complete the form) and a Home Affairs official (where an official from the Department of Home Affairs is not available then a member of the police may be approached to complete the form).
Once the death has been registered, the department, or someone permitted by the department like a SA police officer, will issue a Death Report (form BI-1680).
“These people can also issue burial orders. No burial can take place unless authorised by way of a burial order which is form BI-14,” says Van Noordwyk.
In the event of a South African citizen dying in another country, the death must be reported to the nearest South African Embassy.
The country in which the death occurs must issue a death certificate and a certified copy of the death certificate must be submitted to the South African embassy when reporting a death.
If the deceased is to be buried in South Africa, the embassy will assist with the paperwork and arrangements in order to transport the body to South Africa.
“An abridged death certificate will be issued for free on the same day of the registration of death. An unabridged death certificate can be obtained by completing form BI-132 and paying a fee,” Van Noordwyk says.
If a person still alive has been fraudulently reported dead, it must be reported as soon as possible to the nearest Department of Home Affairs office for urgent investigation and corrective action.
