Digital deeds registration system launched

THE Department of Land Reform and Rural Development has, through the office of the Chief Registrar of Deeds, announced the launch of the Electronic Deeds Registration System (eDRS) this week.

- GIVEN MAJOLA [e-mail]

This is said to be a significant advancement for South Africa’s land registration system as well as the provisioning of deeds registration information to clients and the public. The Department said the Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Act 19 of 2019 is in full operation.

“It provides for the Chief Registrar of Deeds to develop, establish and maintain the electronic deeds registration system by using information and communications technologies for the preparation, lodgement, registration, execution and storing of deeds and documents,” it said.

Land Reform and Rural Development said the aim of the eDRS is to replace the manual registration processes with streamlined systems that use technology to ensure improved security, reduce turnaround times and curb corruption. It said this platform will allow practitioners to lodge deeds directly to the designated office for registration of properties.

Key features of the eDRS include:

Information provisioning: the entire portal is now accessible to the public for all information related to registered deeds and documents.