I started researching my family in south Africa in 1998. This was the reply I received from the Department for Home Affairs. Official Registration of Births,Marriages and Deaths commenced in the different Provinces as follows- Births Marriages Deaths Cape Province 1895 1700 1895 Natal 1868 1869 1888 Transvaal 1901 1870 1901 Orange Free State 1903 1848 1903 My father was born 1900 in the Transvaal and I never obtained his Birth Certificate. Registers in the former South West Africa since March 1978 kept by the Namibian Authorities.
Arlene Beare Co-Director Latvia and Estonia Research Division