How to Get a Copy of an SG Diagram in South Africa

If you need a copy of the Surveyor General (SG) diagram for a property in South Africa, the good news is that you don't need to know its SG number, fill in forms, or visit an office in person. An SG diagram is the official survey of a property — it shows the boundaries, the corner beacons (pegs), the boundary lengths and bearings, the total extent (the size in m² or hectares) and any servitudes crossing the land. This guide walks you through exactly how to find and download one.

First, make sure it's the SG diagram you need

People often confuse two very different documents, so it's worth a quick check before you start:

• The SG diagram is the survey of the property — its measured shape, boundaries, beacons and extent. This is what SGCheck retrieves.
• The title deed is the ownership record — who owns the property, what bonds are registered against it, and the history of transfers. That's a separate document held at a separate office.

If what you actually want is ownership information, a bond figure or transfer history, the SG diagram won't tell you that. Head over to DeedsCheck instead. If you want the survey that defines the boundaries, you're in the right place.

Step 1: Search for the property — for free

You don't need the SG number to begin. SGCheck lets you find a property two ways:

• By address on a map — drop a pin or type the address and let the map locate the erf for you.
• By erf number + town + portion — enter the erf (or farm/holding) number, the town, and the portion number if there is one.

Erf properties in towns and cities are classed as Urban, while farms and agricultural holdings are Rural. Either way, the search is the same — start it from the SGCheck search.

Step 2: Preview which diagrams exist — still free

Once the property is matched, SGCheck shows you, at no cost, which SG diagrams are on record for that property. This matters because a single property can have more than one diagram — for example, an original parent diagram plus later subdivision or consolidation diagrams. Seeing the list up front means you know exactly what you're getting before you pay anything. There's no charge to look.

Step 3: Pay R230 and download the PDFs

When you're happy with what the search has found, you pay a single R230 fee to retrieve and download every SG diagram on that property as a PDF. There are no per-page or per-document add-ons — it's one fee for the full set of diagrams tied to the property. You download the files directly, so you have them on hand for your conveyancer, architect, land surveyor, neighbour dispute, building plans or your own records.

What about sectional title (flats and townhouses)?

Sectional title properties work differently from ordinary erven. The survey documents for a sectional scheme — the sectional plan and related diagrams — aren't pulled instantly the way an erf diagram is. For these, SGCheck sources the diagrams manually on request. You still start with the same search; the difference is that a sectional title order is fulfilled by hand rather than in seconds.

A few practical tips

• You don't need the SG number. The whole point of searching by address or erf is that the system finds the relevant diagram references for you.
• Get the portion right. If a property has been subdivided, the portion number distinguishes one piece of the parent erf or farm from another — including it makes the match more accurate.
• Expect more than one diagram on older or subdivided land. Farms and long-established erven often carry a chain of diagrams, which is why the free preview is useful.
• Keep your use in mind. Diagrams are what surveyors, conveyancers and building authorities ask for when boundaries, beacons or extent are in question.

Ready to find your diagram?

Getting an SG diagram copy comes down to three simple steps: search the property, check the free preview of which diagrams exist, then download the PDFs for R230. No SG number, no forms, no queue. Start with the free SGCheck search and see what's on record for your property in seconds. If, after all this, it turns out you wanted ownership or bond details rather than the survey, that's the job of DeedsCheck.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need the SG number to get an SG diagram?

No. You can search by address on a map, or by erf number plus town and portion. SGCheck finds the relevant diagram references for you, so the SG number is not required.

How much does it cost to download an SG diagram?

Searching and previewing which diagrams exist is free. To retrieve and download every SG diagram on the property as a PDF, you pay a single R230 fee.

Can I get the SG diagram for a flat or sectional title unit?

Yes, but sectional title diagrams are not delivered instantly. SGCheck sources sectional title survey documents manually on request after you start the same property search.

Is an SG diagram the same as a title deed?

No. An SG diagram is the survey showing boundaries, beacons and extent, while a title deed is the ownership record showing who owns the property and any bonds. For ownership records, use DeedsCheck instead.