Electronic Deeds Registration System Set to Vastly Improve the Deeds Registration Process

As part of the conveyancing process the conveyancer will prepare and lodge deeds and documents with the Deeds Office. Currently this is largely a manual process, but following global tech advancement and the need for improved electronic processing, change is underway.

The Act

The Electronic Deeds Registration System Act has been signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa enabling the development of an Electronic Deeds Registration System (or e-DRS). Based on challenges and shortfalls of the current system, a need for an improved process based on modern technology and internet-based delivery presents an efficient way of meeting these challenges.

Challenges of the current deeds registration process

Contributing to the demand for improved electronic solutions faced by the various Deeds Offices using current infrastructure include:

• inability to scale according to volume, particularly in anticipation of 20 million land parcels potentially to be processed through the government’s land reform measures

• integration with the electronic Cadastral Information System to improve efficiency and accuracy of South Africa’s land information management

• the demand for decentralisation of services which would improve delivery at point of need

• consolidating diversified legacy registration procedures

• increased capability and capacity for future forms of land tenure that may be introduced

Solutions provided by the new Electronic Deeds Registration System

The Office of the Chief Registrar of Deeds is piloting a project to facilitate an Electronic Deeds Registration System (e-DRS). The aim of the new process will be to improve:

• capacity for large volumes of registrations

• turn-around times for registered deeds

• national accessibility to information and deeds services

• accuracy of examination and registration

• added security around data and confidentiality

This is a game changer that would see South Africa following in the footsteps of Australia and the UK, with the added benefit of global trial and implementation to learn from. We anticipate interesting results and feedback from firms currently involved in the pilot project.

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