What Is a Surveyor General (SG) Diagram?

A Surveyor General (SG) diagram is the official, approved survey of a single piece of land. It is the document that defines exactly what a property is on the ground — where its corners sit, how long each boundary runs, how big it is, and what rights cross it. Every registered erf, farm and agricultural holding in South Africa has one.

What an SG diagram shows

An SG diagram is a precise technical drawing, prepared by a professional land surveyor and approved by the office of the Surveyor General. On it you will typically find:

• Boundaries and beacons. The shape of the property and the survey beacons (pegs) that mark each corner, with each beacon labelled.
• Dimensions. The length of every boundary line, usually in metres, and the bearings (directions) between beacons.
• Extent. The total area of the property, in square metres or hectares — the official "size" of the erf or farm.
• Servitudes. Any registered rights crossing the land, such as a right of way or a municipal services servitude, shown as lines or strips on the diagram.
• References. The erf or farm number, the township or registration division, and the diagram's own Surveyor General reference (its SG number).

Why the SG diagram matters

The SG diagram is the legal definition of a property's boundaries. When a property is transferred, subdivided, consolidated or built on, the SG diagram is the authority on where the lines actually fall. It is what a surveyor uses to re-establish a missing beacon, what a town planner checks against a building line, and what a buyer or neighbour relies on to settle a boundary question.

SG diagram vs title deed — not the same thing

This is the point that trips most people up. The title deed is the record of ownership: who owns the property and what bonds are registered against it. The SG diagram is the record of the survey: the physical extent and boundaries. They live in different systems and answer different questions. If you actually need owner, bond or transfer information, that is a deeds search — start with DeedsCheck. If you need the surveyed boundaries and dimensions, that is the SG diagram, and that is what SGCheck retrieves.

How to get a copy of an SG diagram

You don't need the SG number or any survey knowledge to find one. With SGCheck you can:

• Search by address on the map, or enter the erf number, town and portion directly.
• See which SG diagrams exist for the property — free.
• Pay once to retrieve and download every diagram on the property as a PDF.

Sectional title properties (flats and townhouses in a scheme) are handled a little differently and are sourced on request rather than instantly.

Frequently asked questions

Is an SG diagram the same as a general plan?

Not quite. An SG diagram covers a single property. A general plan covers a whole township or scheme — many erven shown together on one approved survey. A property in a newer township is often defined by a general plan rather than an individual diagram.

Does every property have an SG diagram?

Every registered erf, farm and agricultural holding is defined by an approved survey — either its own SG diagram or a general plan for its township. SGCheck shows you what exists for the property when you search.

Do I need an SG diagram to sell my house?

The transfer itself is handled through the deeds office on the existing survey, so you usually don't need to order a fresh diagram simply to sell. You may need it for building plans, a boundary query, a subdivision or a consolidation.

Can I get the SG diagram by erf number?

Yes. The erf number plus the town and portion is exactly what the search uses. You can also start from the address on the map and let SGCheck resolve the erf for you.