Every human being is entitled to a form of identification and documentation. Something that states who you are and where you are from, and that is what a birth certificate does. The document contains information about a person, such as their name, birthdate, parents, and place where they were born. In essence, a birth certificate contains the most basic information of every human being, but it is not a basic document. Every person must have one because you’ll need it for school enrolment, in the job market, and to process other documents like an ID or a passport. If you want to have a birth certificate done quickly in South Africa, you will find this article useful.

Birth certificate South Africa

The Births and Deaths Amendment Act made new provisions for birth certificates in South Africa to be issued. If you had been familiar with the old process, then you would need to update your information. In South Africa, once a child is born, you are required to register that child with the department of home affairs at most 30 days after the child is born. If your child is more than 30 days old and has still not been registered, you can still do it now, irrespective of how old the child is now.

To carry out the child’s registration, you would first of all need to be the legal custodian of the child, either the parent or the legal guardian. Then you would have the full responsibility of filling out the BI-24 form with all the necessary information. You should note that you can only fill the form by hand and in black ink, and once the form is filled, you would be required to submit it at any department of home affairs office near you. If you are a South African who is not in South Africa, you can submit a request for your childbirth certificate at the South African embassy in that country.

As of March 2014, the department of home affairs cancelled the issuing of abridged birth certificates that used to carry only the child’s identification number, the country in which they were born and their full name. This was replaced by an unabridged certificate that included many details such as the parents’ name, the child’s identification number, the name of the city where the child was born, and their citizenship.

What is a vault birth certificate?

You have probably heard this before, or even if you haven’t heard about it until now, you will have the privilege of having it explained to you. First of all, this has nothing to do with actual vaults. A vault certificate is the original copy of the form that parents are required to fill by hand, to register their children at any DHA office. Upon submission, the form is supposed to be signed by the parents and the official who receives the registration form.

If it’s just a registration form, then why may you need it? A vault certificate isn’t some random piece of paper; it is very needful in certain circumstances. If you need to apply for a South African passport, but you are in a different country, if you need to apply for dual citizenship, then you may need to present this piece of information and this specific document. The vault birth certificate acts as proof that you are a South African citizen or prove that your passport is valid. So it is mostly for people who are overseas.

Birth certificate Requirement in South Africa?

• Birth certificates in South Africa are free on the condition that you register the child no longer than 30 days after the child was born. If the child is older than 30 days old, then you would be required to pay a fee. According to the births and deaths registration act, if you do not register the child within the stipulated time frame, it is considered late registration. So, for all late registrations, you would need the following to register your child:
• The DHA24/LRB form; this form is used to notify the department that you require the child’s birth certificate.
• A DHA24/PB form to act as proof that the child was born at a health facility (hospital, clinic etc.)
• A DHA24P-BA form to act as proof that the child was born at home. The document serves as some form of affidavit that you are required to present.
• The DHA288/A form is an affidavit explaining why they are applying for the birth certificate late.
• The parents would have to give their fingerprints.
• The parents would have to present their ID or passport to be able to identify themselves.
• Then you would have to pay the penalty fee so that the process can be completed.
• The biometric data of the child is their fingerprints, the prints of their palms and feet.
• (people over seven years old would have to include ID size photographs).

A few things that you should take note of, those who are applying for birth certificates as a late registration are broken into 3 categories:

• 31 day – one year
• One year – seven years
• Seven years – above

For each of these categories, there are other additional documents that you may be required to add to the documents listed above.

The fastest way to get a birth certificate

The process of getting any document is most times stressful, especially because of the waiting period. If you need a birth certificate for a particular purpose, then we suggest you start the process well before time. However, there is a way to get a birth certificate in one week or even less.

If you want a quick birth certificate, then apply early. If you apply within the 30 days stipulated by the department of home affairs, you will be able to get your childbirth testimonial within 24 hours. Otherwise, it takes about three to eight weeks for your request to be processed, approved and the birth certificate issued.

Note: If your child was born out of wedlock, then you shouldn’t feel dismayed. The procedure for applying for a birth certificate doesn’t change; the difference lies in the surname that you will give the child, which is the mother. You may decide to give the child his father’s name if the father consents to it. For this, you would need the BI-24 form, which must be filled by hand in black ink and submitted to the closest DHA office to you. Once that has been done, the parents would be issued the child’s birth certificate free of any charge.

That’s it! How simple is that? So, you see that applying for a birth certificate, no matter how old the child might be, isn’t as difficult as you may have imagined; it was only a matter of getting the right information. So, there you have it, you can go ahead and begin the process of getting your childbirth certificate ready. If you have any questions or worries that we have not addressed in this article, please contact the department of home affairs so you can have those doubts clarified. Use the contact information that has been made available below:

Read Also: The Difference Between an Unabridged and Abridged Birth Certificate

Contact information:

Postal: Private Bag X114, Pretoria, 0001

Physical Address: Hallmark Building, 230 Johannes Ramokhoase Street, Pretoria

Tel: 012 406 2500 / 0800 60 11 90

Fax: 086 512 7864

Web: www.dha.gov.za

The acronym SANRAL stands for the South African Road Agency LTD. It is a parastatal company that manages, maintains, and develops national, provincial and regional routes in the country. In 2013, sanral introduced the sanral etag, which can recognise a car from its number plate. The main aim of this article is to explain what these etags are and to tell you everything you need to about, from how they work to how you can apply for them.

What are SANRAL etags?

Before diving into the full length and bulk of this article, you must first know what these etags are. And as promised, we will explain it to you as simply as we can. First, the (e) stands for electronic, so we know it is an electronic device. Then a tag is something that is attached to some other thing. Well, explain, take the labels on your clothes; for example, they are attached to your clothes when you purchase those tags. In our context, an ETag is attached to your car. The device is an electronic device that is placed inside of the car on the windscreen.

This tag acts as some sort of identification for the car since it is connected to your licence plate number and your e-toll account on SANRAL. It also has information on what type of vehicle you have.

How do etags work?

Etags work as electronic toll collection tools. They are replaced in highways around Gauteng, and they scan every car that passes under any of the gantries placed there. It can do this by using ETag checkers, which check the licence plate number of the car or the ETag disc placed on the windscreen.

Where can I buy an ETag?

Now that you understand what etags are and how they work, you probably want to know where to purchase an ETag. If you are still on the fence about it, here are a few reasons why you should: this new technology makes it difficult for people who duplicate or clone number plates to continue in their act. It also monitors traffic flow on highways so that incidence on the highway is quickly responded to. You can get etags at the following places:

• you can order your tag online on the SANRAL website at www.sanral.co.za.
• You can call in to order by calling this number: 0800 726 725
• You can also purchase an ETag at any E-Toll Customer Service Outlet in a mall or along the Gauteng road.
• It is also available at supermarkets such as ShopRite, Pick n Pay and Checkers.

Where do I register an e-toll account? 

To register for an e-toll account, you just have to follow these easy steps. It will only take you a few minutes. Register by doing the following:

• You can register online on the official sanral website. Launch the website and click on the e-toll option. Then proceed to register.
• You can register by downloading the Sanral app from the Apple app store (for IOS users) and the google play store (for android users). Once the application has been downloaded and installed on your device, proceed to register.
• You can register via phone call by calling this number 0800 726 725. An assistant will be there to guide you through the entire application process.
• You can also register for an e-toll account at any E-Toll Customer Service Outlet in a mall or along the Gauteng road.
• Download the registration form from the e-toll website, print it out, fill it and then email it to info@sa-etoll.co.za or fax it to 0800 726 725

SANRAL application 

To ensure the security of your account and to ease its management, sanral developed a mobile application released in 2018. The applications have features that support and perform various functions, which include:

• It allows you to check your account balance.
• Using the app, you can top up your Sanral etag for your account.
• You are able to make changes to your contact information.
• With the application, you can see all the transactions you have made and download your complete transaction details.
• You have access to your receipts and statements.
• Customer service is a click away; you can easily reach them and have your worries sorted out with the application.
• The application also allows you to be able to manage all your tags on your different vehicles.

If you already have a SANRAL account, simply key in your etag login details. If you have forgotten your password, use the recovery feature to regain access to your account or call customer service for assistance if you have any difficulties.

How do I pay my etag bill? 

There are several methods through which you can pay your etag bills. You can choose your preferred method according to which is more convenient for you. You can use either of these methods:

You can use the prepaid method to pay in advance by loading up your account with funds. You can prepay for your tags wherever a sanral outlet is located.

Various stores and supermarkets retail tags. Such stores include ShopRite, Checkers, Pick n Pay etc. You can pay your etag bill at any of these retailers.

If you prefer to stay at home, you can pay your bills on the sanral website.

Also Read: Everything you Need to Know About IRP5 Form

SANRAL etag batteries 

Sanral batteries can last for up to 5 years without needing to be changed or replaced. If you pass under any of the gantries and the tag doesn’t beep, it beeps up to four times; that is an indicator that it is time to change the batteries.

SANRAL contacts 

If you have any questions or inquiries or would like more information about etags and how to get them, you can contact SANRAL at their corporate office using any of the following means:

Physical address: 48 Tambotie Avenue, Val de Grace, Pretoria, 0184 P.O. Box 415, Pretoria, 0001

Telephone number: 012 844 8000

Fax number: 012 844 8200

Website: www.nra.co.za

Regional offices

If you can not make your way to their corporate office, please visit any of their regional offices near you or contact them using the following information:

Southern Region

Located opposite Entrance 41, 100 Baywest Boulevard,  Baywest City, Port Elizabeth, 6017 P.O. Box 27230, Greenacres, 6057.
Telephone number: 041 398 3200
Fax number: 041 398 3222

Western Region

Physical address: 1 Havenga Street, Oakdale, Bellville, 7530, Private Bag X19, Bellville, 7535 
Telephone number: 021 957 4600
Fax number: 021 910 1966

Eastern Region

58 van Eck Place, Mkondeni, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 P.O. Box 100410, Scottsville, 3209
Telephone number: 033 392 8100
Fax number: 033 386 6284

Northern Region 

Physical address: 38 Ida Street, Menlo Park, 0081, Tshwane, Private Bag X17, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040 Telephone number: 012 426 6200
Fax number: 012 348 1512

SANRAL tenders 

What are South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) tenders?

Since Sanral is in charge of road maintenance and construction, most of their tenders are directly related to that field. The other smaller percentage of tenders are for auxiliary jobs, tasks that contribute to the facilitation of the entire construction process.

How many tender requests does the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) publish?

In recent years, the total number of tenders that were posted was 99. 19 out of the 99 tenders are still open requests, and 25 were posted in the past month. If you are interested in applying for a tender, you can check the Sanral website for the tenders that are still open.

Several categories of tenders are open to interested parties to apply, such as grass cutting tenders, routine road maintenance tenders, and many others.

If you would like to stay updated about which tenders are open and which are closed, or you would want to have first-hand information about available tenders, go ahead and register on the sanral tender database. It also helps if you are already registered on the central supplier database. Since Sanral is a parastatal, its tenders would appear on the Government tenders bulletin.

How to register on the sanral supplier database: 

To register for the sanral supplier database, you can simply register on the South African government’s Central Supplier Database. By registering on the central supplier database, you will be registered as a supplier. This way, you will be contacted and notified if there is an open tender in your field of interest. To register on the central supplier database, follow these steps:

Step 1:

• First, start by launching the CSD website on your device by using this link: www.csd.gov.za
• Then create a new supplier account. If you have an account, there is no need to create a new one; simply login to your existing account.
• An email will be sent to you asking that you confirm your email address; click on the confirm button to activate your account.
• You will then be required to enter your one-time pin (OTP).
• Request the pin and enter it, and your account will be activated. Once that is done, log in to the central supplier database.

Step 2:

After logging in, the next step is to fill in the required information in their corresponding fields. You would be required to:

• Fill in your supplier identification information.
• Complete your industry classification information
• You are also required to fill in your contact information.
• Fill in your address information in the corresponding field.
• Include your bank account information
• You are also required to complete your tax information.
• For non-CIPC companies, you are required to complete directors/members information.
• If you are associated with any other company or organisation, mention them in the space provided.
• Complete your commodities information
• Fill in your notification information so that you can be notified if any tenders suit you.
• If it is relevant, complete accreditations.
• Fill in the B-BBEE information.
• After filling in all the necessary information, cross-check to ensure that they are correctly entered. If everything is in order, click on SUBMIT.

Sanral Tenders

Sanral tenders for this year have been listed on their website and other websites that publish tenders. There, you will be able to see which tenders are open and which have been closed. If you are considering applying for a tender, then you should familiarise yourself with the system. The South African system of conducting tenders is usually in four stages:

• There is a request for Tenders by the organisation or company.
• Then they issue the tender documents.
• Afterwards, there is a Receipt and review of tenders that have been submitted.
• After reviewing the tenders that have been submitted, they then Award the contract to their best pick.

To find out which tenders are open and get more information on applying for these tenders, visit the Sanral website. You can as well check the government tender bulletin for tender requests that may suit you.

The IRP5 form is a document that is required for taxpayers. This document allows the South African revenue services to assess the tax liability of each person. Every South African citizen, individual and company alike has a tax obligation that they must comply with and meet up to. The IRP5 form is submitted to employers on behalf of their employees. It contains all income information of the employees during that specific tax period.

The information that the form contains includes:

• All information pertaining to that tax year.
• Employer details.
• The name of the company.
• Your PAYE number.
• UIF details.
• The employees’ physical address.

In this article, we will explain what the form is, where to get it, and every other thing you may need to know regarding the IRP5.

IRP5 form explained 

Using all of these technical terms might throw you a little off course, so we are breaking it down a little more to understand it better. The IRP5 form states that the South African Revenue Service issues are simply a tax certificate. This certificate is given to the employees of a company every year. It contains information such as the employees’ tax details, their income, their deduction, and any other associated tax.

What this is, is a compilation of all your payslips for the entire tax year. All employees need to have this certificate because they will be able to complete their tax returns during that working year. We hope this explanation clarifies a lot of your doubts and worries with regard to what the form is; if it doesn’t, do not fret; more information will be shared in subsequent sections.

SARS tax return IRP5

Several frameworks have been created under the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax system, and all South Africans are required to act in accordance with these structures. The IRP5 is therefore ideal for facilitating the process of recording annual tax returns for each individual, making it as easy and stress-free as possible. The form contains several employee details such as:

• Name details
• Postal address
• Employee details
• Birthdate
• Income tax references
• If you receive your salary through your bank account, your bank details will also be included in the form.

SARS IRP5 online and hardcopy 

Employers can get this form whenever they need to fill and submit it. You are allowed to use your company logo on the form but on no condition can you place the SARS logo on your IRP5 form. After filling the form, the employer should provide a copy of the filled form to the employee so that he/she can go through the form and ensure that all the information that has been filled in is correct.

It is the responsibility of the employer to go through the form and make all the necessary corrections before submitting the final copy to the South African Revenue Service. If an employee recognises an error on their IRP5 form, they are not allowed to make the corrections themselves no matter the circumstance; that right is reserved for employers only.

SARS income taxation 

SARS has created a system that assigns unique codes to different incomes received by individuals under different categories. Below is a list of codes and their specified meanings:

1. Income received 

3601: income (this is a general code for all basic salary amounts)

3605: annual payments (this code is used for annual bonuses or once-off payments)

3606: commission payments

3701: travel allowances

3702: Reimbursive travel allowance ( this code is used in the instant where the travel allowance is above 12,000 km or the prescribed rate per kilometre.)

3703: Reimbursive travel allowance (non-taxable) where the allowance is not more than 12,000 kilometres, the prescribed rate per kilometre, and no other compensation is paid to the worker.

3704: Subsistence allowance for local travel and/or code 3715 for foreign travel where the deemed figures and/or periods are surpassed.

3705: Subsistence allowance for local travel and/or code 3716 for foreign travel where the deemed totals and periods are not exceeded.

3713: Other taxable allowances including cell phone, entertainment, and earnings subject to PAYE)

3810: Fringe benefit – Company contribution to medical aid (figures should agree with code 4474)

Employees should understand that the income received is a Gross Employment Income (code 3699) and is subject to taxation. Additionally, non-taxable income is described under code 3696.

2. SARS deductions

Below is a list of deductions under SARS regulations:

4001: Total pension fund contributions paid or deemed paid by employee (includes both employee and employer contribution)

4003: Total provident fund contributions paid or considered to be paid by employee (consists of both employee and employer contribution)

4005: Medical aid contributions paid and deemed to be paid by the employee (includes both employee and employer contribution towards a private medical aid)

4006: Total retirement annuity fund contributions paid and considered to be paid by the employee

4472: Employer’s pension fund contributions paid for the benefit of the employee

4473: Employer’s provident fund contributions paid for the benefit of the employee

4474: Employer’s medical scheme contributions paid for the benefit of the employee

4582: Value of “remuneration” included in allowances and benefits (travel-related)

4497: Reflects the total deductions and contributions for the period

3. Tax credits and employee contributions

4102: PAYE (Indicates the amount of PAYE that was deducted from the employee and already paid during the period)

4116: Medical scheme fees tax credit (it shows the total amount of the medical scheme fee tax credits already received during the period)

4. Other SARS source codes include:

3802: Use of motor vehicle (not operating lease)

3816: Use of motor vehicle obtained by employers through an operating lease

SARS forms download 

As we have already established, the IRP5 form is an essential document for employees to be able to complete their tax returns easily and without stress. With this form, you are guaranteed to include every necessary detail because the form provides it for you. If you do not include this form when submitting your documents to SARS, you may be required to include it before your documents are reviewed.

To get the form, you can download it from several websites online. Most simply type “IRP5 form download” into your browser, and you will be presented with several options to download the form in several formats. Pick the one that is most convenient for you and download it. You can use applications that allow you to fill the form digitally, or you may choose to download the form, print it and then fill it.

Read Also: How Do I Apply for a Job in Statistics SA?

Employer and employee tax obligation 

Both the employer and the employee are required to pay tax. It is their obligation to do so. The employees are required to declare all their withholdings and deductions to SARS by submitting the required documents as well as the monthly employer declaration form (EMP201) must be completed monthly. You can as well benefit from the administrative solutions provided by the Metal Industries Benefit Fund Administrators (MIBFA) if you are interested.

You should also note that the IRP5 form is sometimes called the IT3 form. So if you see this anywhere, they both serve the same purpose. Both serve the purpose of a tax certificate. So employees are required to have as much information as possible with regards to their tax certificate. An employee also has the obligation of providing the employer with all necessary information.

If you have any concerns or are in need of any information that has not been provided in this article, don’t hesitate to get in touch with SARS for more information on the subject. You can contact them through any of the contact information made available below.

Contact Details:

Postal: Private Bag X923, Pretoria, 0001

Physical address: Lehae La Sars Building,

299 Bronkhorst Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, 0181

Tel: 012 422 4000

Web: www.sars.gov.za

The matric certificate is also known as the national senior certificate. It proves you were in school, completed and left senior school. You must present this document when looking for a job or even seeking admission to a school. If you do not have this certificate, you can have a successful life and career, but having the certificate is more than an added advantage. This is why losing or damaging it could be a serious problem for the holder. You can rest easy because replacing your matric certificate is easy and stress-free.

Also Read: 2025 Matric Exam Dates

Replacing to replace a lost matric certificate

If you have lost hope of replacing your certificate, we beg you to revive that hope. This article will provide you with a guide that will help you throughout your application process.

There are two ways of applying for a replacement of your matric certificate. You can either do it online or offline. The government has charged Umalsi to replace lost or damaged certificates. However, you cannot apply to Umalsi directly; you must apply to the Department of Education.

What do you need when applying for a lost matric certificate? 

Knowing where to tender your application isn’t enough; we understand that. That is why we will provide information on how to complete the application process.

First, you will need an application form. You can get this form from the Department of Education website or walk down to any of their branch offices and get the form. It doesn’t matter where you wrote; there is no need to return there to complete this process. You can do it wherever you are now.

The form requires that you fill in certain details correctly; otherwise, you may have complications in getting your certificate replaced. You must include the exact year you wrote the examination, the name of the school and your full name as it was on the lost certificate.

Supporting documentation 

Added to the form, you must attach other documents to it. These documents include:

• You must state in an affidavit why you are requesting your certificate be replaced: Was it stolen or damaged?
• If the certificate was damaged, you would have to attach the damaged certificate to your application form and the affidavit. If it was lost, this doesn’t apply to you.
• Then you would also need to include a certified copy of your identification documents and the original ID.

For a bit more information on the supporting documents:

The affidavit is supposed to be obtained from the police, so you can’t get it from anywhere else. It is a sworn statement explaining in detail what happened to the original document and its condition before you lost it. You must also explain in detail how you lost it: Was it vandalised, stolen, or lost in a fire? Whatever the case may be, it must be spelt out.

Certified copies of your identification documents: a certified copy means you photocopy your original documents and then take the copy to a police station or an attorney’s office. The certification would make it a legal document; otherwise, it is a regular piece of paper. This document is simply so that the Department of Education can identify you.

Proof of payment: replacing your lost certificate is not cost-free. You will have to pay a fee. However, the amount changes yearly after the Department of Education has reviewed it. But what’s sure is that you must pay a fee. Whatever fee is decided upon runs for 12 months from the 1st of April to the 31st of March the following year. As of March 2024, the cost to replace a matric certificate was R130. You can check with the Department of Education website to determine the present costs.

You can choose to pay the fee through checks, credit or debit cards or an ATM deposit. However, if you decide to make the payment, ensure that you have proof that you made the payment. You could use a payslip or any other document that proves the transactions.

An e-request: This isn’t as complicated as it sounds. After filling out your application and attaching all the supporting documents, you would submit your request to the Umalusi electronically, where it will be added to their database. If you are not familiar with the internet and would rather have the form filled out offline, simply fax the filled form along with the other supporting documents to Private bag X895, Pretoria, 0001.

How long does it take to replace a lost matric certificate? 

Having your matric certificate replaced usually takes 4 – 6 weeks before a new certificate is issued. As much as you want to get it quicker, that isn’t possible. There is no quick fix to get the certificate replaced within 24 hours or so. You would have to wait patiently.

Also, note that once you are issued a new certificate, the old one becomes useless and invalid. So, if your certificate was lost, you applied to replace it and later found the original, which is no longer valid.

In conclusion, the information in this article should provide you with a guide to getting your matric certificate replaced. We understand that trying to penetrate the job market or seek enrollment may have been difficult, but you will be ready to jump right away. If you have any questions that the article has not been able to answer, please forward your inquiries to the Department of Education through any of the contact details listed below:

Department of Basic Education

222 Struben Street, Sol Plaatjie building
Pretoria Central
Tel: 012 357 3255
Web: @dbe.gov.za

Department of Higher Education

222 Struben Street, Sol Plaatjie building
Pretoria Central
Tel: 012 357 3255
Web: @dbe.gov.za

Working online can be very frustrating if our internet isn’t as fast as you would like it to be. A speed test allows you to find out how fast your internet is, especially when uploading or downloading content on the internet. Internet service providers usually promise a maximum speed limit in optimal conditions for the connection they are offering you; testing your broadband internet speed allows you to access how fast or how slow your connection is in actuality. This article provides you with the necessary information to test your broadband internet speed and to learn how to read the test.

What is a speed test? 

The best way to check how fast or slow your internet is is by using a speed test. A speed test calculates the speed between a server and your devices using your internet connection. The speed of your internet connection is affected by the optimal speed your internet service provider promises. This will consequently limit your upload and download speed to be at or below the promised speed rate.

Vodacom South Africa, for example, notifies its customers when they have maxed out their Vodacom fibre broadband FUP, and their limit speed is reduced to 2Mbps for customers who have subscribed to the 10/5Mbps uncapped internet package. Internet service providers lure customers to their networks by promising “up to” a certain speed of internet connection. If you realize that your connection is slower than you would like, you can take a speed test to certify how far or slow your connection is.

Speed tests pay more attention to your upload, download and PING speeds. In South Africa, internet subscribers are most likely to subscribe to an internet package that provides faster download speed and slower upload speed.

How a speed test works

A speed test tests three aspects that is the PING, upload and download speeds. It does so by using a test server. A speed test is carried out in a series of steps:

First, the client detects your exact location and finds a test server that is closest to you. Depending on the speed test tool you use, you may be able to change or choose a server by yourself.

Next, a signal known as a PING is sent to the nearest server to you, and the server responds. The speed test would then calculate in milliseconds the time it took for the signal to reach the server and the time it took the server to respond.

After testing the PING, it will then proceed to test the download speed. The client does this by trying to download a small piece of data from the multiple connections to the server that most have opened. During this process, the speed test would calculate how long it takes for it to grab that piece of data and how much of your network’s resources are used in the process. After establishing clear connections with your internet service, another attempt at downloading another fragment of data would be made. It will then proceed to calculate the amount downloaded in the time and then provides the download speed.

After calculating the download speed, the client would then proceed to the final test, which is the upload speed test. The process is a reverse of the download speed test. Instead of downloading a piece of data, the client uploads a piece of data from your pc to the server. It then calculates the amount of time and resources is times to upload that contact on the server.

When you have gone through this process, you will be provided with a speed test result telling you how fast or slow your internet connection is.

How to perform an internet speed test in South Africa

You can perform your broadband internet speed test in South Africa by following these simple steps:

Step 1: Open the web browser on your device

Step 2: visit the speed test website at www.speedtest.net

Step 3: to begin your speed test, simply click on “GO”, and the speed test will start running automatically.

There is an alternative means of running a broadband internet speed test should you choose to use it. Simply Google searche “speed test”, and the internet knowledge toolbox will appear on your screen. To start running the test, click on the “run speed test” button. By following these simple steps, you can commerce the search on your internet broadband.

How to read a speed test

To determine if your test had a positive or negative turnout, you would need to be able to read the test. Since the test involves testing the PING, download and upload speed, you would need to be able to interpret the data accordingly and correctly.

The PING is the reaction time of your connection, and it is measured in milliseconds. It calculates the amount of time it takes for data to travel from your computer to a test server after you must have sent a request.

The download speed calculates how fast data is transferred to your computer. This speed is recorded in megabits per second (Mbps). Most of the activities performed online circle around streaming, downloading and loading web pages; thus, the download speed is more often than not faster than the upload speed.

As explained above, most internet users download more than they upload, and as such, internet service providers usually offer a slower upload speed depending on your package. The upload speed is the time it takes to send data to the internet. For instance, sharing content such as videos, images, and music on social media, or even sending files via email. Like the download speed, the upload speed is measured in megabits per second (Mbps).

Having this knowledge will help you understand and read your test result better.

Your download speed is key when streaming videos.

With so many online streaming services available to users in South Africa, you want to get the best out of your online streaming experience by ensuring that your internet download speed results are good. We have provided you with a list of high-speed internet streaming activities and the internet speed you will need to have to stream videos without facing any problems.

• 1 Mbps:

With this, you can stream SD quality videos on your pc or your laptop. You can also stream music in compressed formats such as Mp3, AAC etc., and you can surf the web normally.

• 2 Mbps:

This internet speed allows you to stream lossless music as well as stream SD quality videos on your television.

• 5 Mbps: with this internet speed, you can stream HD (720p) videos.
• 10 Mbps: at this speed, you can stream full HD (1080p) videos with high definition audio.
• 25 Mbps: stream up to 4k or ultra HD videos.

These bandwidth ratings are only accurate if only one device is connected to the internet connection at a time. If your home router has several devices connected to it at a time, the overall speed would be affected.

Also Read: How to Check and Block WASP from Stealing Your Airtime

Are speed tests accurate? 

Internet speed tests may not be accurate, sometimes because of the method the services use. To ensure that your speed tests are as accurate as possible, restart your device, your modem or router and clear your browser cache before running the test. Also, remember to choose an HTML5 internet speed test rather than a flash-based one.

With the information contained in this article, you will be able to test your broadband internet speed and interpret the results to see if they are favourable or not. You may go ahead and test your internet connection speed at your convenience.

CAO handbook

The central applications office (CAO) is the office in charge of all undergraduate admissions in the country. It plays the role of the national information centre for applications to study at higher institutions in the country. The COA coordinates activities that are related to applications and requirements for enrollment at these institutions.

The office’s mission is to process all applications under a central umbrella in a manner that is considered fair and efficient. Although the colleges and universities still retain full control of those they choose to admit to their college, they delegate the administration of these admissions to the CAO.

What is the CAO handbook?

The CAO handbook is a manual or a guide that contains a list of courses, admission guides, and admission requirements, as well as all the admission application information you may need when following the central application office admission process.

The handbook gives you information about all the application process to any intuition and gives you all the information any prospective student needs to become a student at any university or institution.

The handbook contains a prospectus which is a document sent to prospective students in order to convince them to take the bold step and apply for admission at any particular institution. It carries information about the institution, the courses that are available for admission and includes a step by step guide of how you should go about with your admission and what you stand to benefit from should you choose to accept a place in that university.

This prospectus can be made available online or on paper by the university and usually carries information about individual courses. Including information about the staff

• Notable alumni
• The way the campus is structured
• Special facilitates
• Services that the university offers such as performance hall, acting stages, sports and gym facilities etc.

It also contains information on how you can get in contact with the institution of your choice and how you can reach them.

With the handbook, students are better informed about their prospective schools, the admission application process, and what they need to enrol in the institution of their choice.

CAO handbook 2022 PDF download 

The Central Applications Office handbook is available for students to download online. It has been uploaded by the office and can be downloaded for free.

You can download and print out the handbook or access it online in PDF format using the official school web link: http://www.caohandbook.co.za/.

You are not required to pay any fee for the handbook to be downloaded or to be printed. If you have any questions regarding the handbook or the other services provided by the CAO, you are free to do so.

How to contact CAO

You can reach out to the CAO for more information and inquiries by visiting the institution’s official website.

CAO Contact Details: Website, Tel., Postal Address, Physical Address & eMail.

Phone Numbers:

Call Centre: 031 268 4444

Share Call: 086 0860 CAO / 086 0860 226

Fax Number: 086 622 8828

If faxing from outside South Africa, use +27 31 268 4422

Physical Address:

Gate 11, Central Services Complex – UKZN

Mary Thiphe Street (Cato Manor Road)

Cato Manor

Durban

Postal Address:

Private Bag X06

Delbridge

4014

eMail:

enqgeneralcao@cao.ac.za

Website:

The Official Central Applications Office, CAO Website – www.cao.ac.za

South Africans appreciate the ability and freedom to vote. But, not everyone can make it to the voting station on election day; for that reason, the IEC has introduced a special voting system. The system allows voters to vote on predetermined days either at a voting station or from their homes.

What Is A Special Vote?

Special votes are votes that are completed by special ballot on the days preceding election day. They enable those who can’t make it to their local voting station to still participate in the elections and express their voice.

Who Can Apply for A Special Vote

Not everyone is eligible for a special vote. To qualify for a special vote, you must be unable to visit your local voting station on the voting day because you’re pregnant, infirm, or have another disability that prevents you from visiting a voting station on election day. You may also be eligible if for other reasons, like work, you can’t visit the voting station on election day.

You will also only be able to apply for a special vote if you are above the age of 18, a registered voter, and have a valid South African ID – either a green, barcoded ID, Smart ID or temporary Identification Certificate issued by home affairs.

How To Apply for a Special Vote Online

The IEC has made applying for a special vote particularly easy. Voters have until 4 October 2022 to complete their special vote application, after which they will receive confirmation that their application is either approved or declined.

Visit the IEC Website

To begin the online application for a special vote, visit the IECs website. Then navigate to the “Voters” tab and under the tab, click on “Apply for a special vote” in the middle column. Alternatively, you can click here.

Complete The Relevant Information

Once you have been redirected to the special voting online application form, you will need to input your details, including your name, surname, ID number and residential address. You will also need to enter your phone number and email address.

You will also need to confirm a declaration before you can click submit.

How To Apply for a Special Vote in Person

If you can’t apply for a special vote online, you can do it in person at your local IEC office. If you want to apply for a special vote at your home, you can send a relative or spouse to apply on your behalf. To do this, follow the steps below.

Make an Appointment at Your Local IEC Office

You first need to make an appointment. You can do that by calling your local IEC office. You will find a list of local IEC offices here, or you can download a complete list of local IEC offices through this link.

Visit Your Local IEC Office

After you have made an appointment, you can visit your local IEC office during the operating hours of Monday to Friday between 9 am and 5 pm.

Submit an MEC 35 Form

Then, when you’re at the local IEC office, you will need to present the MEC 35 form. You can download the MEC 35 form here, or you can request this form at the IEC office.

On this form, you will need to input the information election date, municipality name, and voting district number followed by your personal information, including your name, ID number, email address, residential address, and phone number. Then the official will fill in the part of the document beneath “FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY.

How To Check Special Vote Application Status

After you’ve submitted your special vote application, you can review the status of your application online, via SMS or by calling the IEC call centre.

Check Special Vote Application Status Online

Visit the IECs website. On the home page, click the “I want to” Tab and then click “Check the status of special vote application”. From there, you will be directed to the special vote status check. You will need to select the election you’re applying for and enter your ID number. You will then be redirected to a page that will display the status of your special vote application.

Check Special Vote Application Status via SMS

To check your special vote application status via SMS you will need to send your 13-digit ID number to 32711. The rate for the SMS is R1. You will then receive an SMS indicating the status of your application.

Check Special Vote Application Status via IEC

You can also call the IECs call centre on 0800 11 8000 and follow the prompts to get information about your special vote application status.

When Does Special Voting Take Place?

Since the South African local government elections have been scheduled to take place on 1 November 2022, special voting will take place on Saturday, 30 October, and Sunday, 31 October, between 7 am and 9 pm.

How Will I Cast My Special Vote?

If your application to receive a special vote is approved, you will receive confirmation. You will then be able to cast your special vote on the special voting days. If you haven’t selected a home visit, you will have to make your way to your voting station on the predetermined dates. From there, officials will scan your ID, mark your thumb with indelible ink, and give you the relevant ballots. You will then cast your vote with an X and place the ballot in a plain white envelope, followed by an envelope marked with your name, surname, and ID number.

Your name will also be marked on the voter’s registration with an SV to indicate you’ve voted by special vote.

If you’ve selected a home visit to make your special vote, IEC officials will visit your home on the predetermined special voting dates.

They’ll scan your ID document, place indelible ink on your thumb and hand you closed ballots.

You will then be able to vote with those ballots, place them in the envelopes, and place them in the ballot box.

The IEC has officials to oversee the process, making it impossible to forge special votes. However, if you’re handed more ballots than what is prescribed for your council – two ballots for metro councils and three ballots for district councils – consider reporting the irregularity to the IEC.

In recent times, and the advent of the internet, making money has never been so easy yet so complicated if you aren’t knowledgeable enough. This paradox of our world applies to everything, from running an online shop, trading in cryptocurrencies or trading in forex. The long and short of the story is; that knowledge is key. If you are considering venturing into Forex in South Africa, you are not exempted from this. You must get all the information you would need to make money and not lose it. This article contains information on what forex is, how to trade and the risk involved in engaging in this venture.

What is forex money?

Forex simply means the foreign exchange market, which is a global yet decentralised currency market. Here, you can buy, sell and exchange currencies at a predetermined price or the price at which they are being sold at the moment. The currency market is the largest in the world and has the responsibility of determining the foreign exchange rates. Forex money is the profit you make if the currency you buy increases in value more than the money you sold. You don’t make any money if the value is the same, and you lose money if the value drops.  

How to make money with forex 

Nobody engages in the currency market to lose money; on the contrary, the goal is to make a lot of profit and earn from the trade. If you are going to make money from forex, you must first do your research. Find out all there is to know about forex by studying online or making appointments with consultancy firms and organisations. Although much of your knowledge of forex trading would come from your experiences trading in the field, learn as much about the markets, including the factors that influence your preferred currencies, before you start trading.

How to start trading forex in South Africa

If you are going to start trading forex in South Africa, here are a few things we recommend you consider so that you get the most out of your experience and, most importantly, make more money:  

Find a reliable forex broker 

to ensure the safety of your deposits and reduce the risk of losing money to unscrupulous people, ensure that you are working with reputable dealers. Ensure that you carry out as much research about your broker as possible, including their leverage amounts, initial deposit amounts, and withdrawal policies. It is also important that you find a broker that is registered with a regulatory body. That way, you are assured that their activities are closely monitored, and you can report any fraudulent activities.

Learn how to read a forex quote

Learning how to read forex quotes enables you to familiarise yourself with the terminologies associated with the trade. Quotes start with a currency pair that tell you which currencies you are trading with. In a forex quote, currency pairs usually include a bid, and an ask price. To effectively trade in forex, you must be able to understand what the quote means, and how to read, interpret and respond to them.  

• Explaining the base and quote currency 

A quote is made up of two currencies that are called a currency pair, and a currency pair has a base currency and a quote currency. The base currency is also known as the transaction currency. It is the first currency that appears on any currency quote. Some popular base currency includes the US dollar, the British Pound, Euros and the Australian Dollars.

Quote currency, on the other hand, maybe considered by a firm as the domestic currency of the trader. It is the second half of the currency pair quotation and can also be referred to as the counter currency. In currency pair quotations, simply tell you how much of the quote currency you need to have one unit of your base currency.

For example USD/EUR = .6356

This quote means that you would be translated to mean that 1 USD is equivalent to 0.6356 Euros.

Think of your trading time 

Although the forex market is open 24/7 from Monday to Friday, you should know the right time to trade. Picking the right trading time would be a great way to maximise your trades. You should trade when the major stock markets are most active, i.e. London and New York. If you are in South Africa, the best time to trade would be around midnight, when both London and New York are awake and active.

Start with a demo account. 

A demo account is a practice or a test account. Where you can practice in a simulated setting without actually funding the account, this allows you to have real-life practice and lived experience trading on a forex market. After using a demo account for some time and familiarizing yourself with the trade you can then move on to registering and trading on a funded account.

Basic requirements to open a forex account 

To trade in forex, you will need to first set up an account with a reputable broker. Creating an account simply requires that you provide the broker with some personal and financial information to get your account set up. Some brokers may require that you pay a registration fee or some monthly subscription fees that would be particular to the broker you are working with. Listed below are the general requirements to set up a forex account:

• Name
• Email
• Physical address
• Telephone number
• Account currency type
• Trading account password
• Birthdate
• Citizenship
• Employment status
• Yearly income
• Your net worth
• State if you have any trading experience

Other specific requirements will be communicated to you by your broker.

Forex trading and risk 

As we mentioned above, forex isn’t void of risks. You risk losing all your money from your trade over a short period if you do not take the necessary precaution. Over 90% of traders end up being on the losing end in forex. You should be ready to take these high risks with your money and hope to reap the benefits of them as well. Here are some of the risks you should beware of:

• The forex market witnesses many changes very quickly, and you have to constantly be on your toes. The forex market is highly volatile (liable to change rapidly and unpredictably). Although this dynamic nature of the market allows you to make profits if it sways the wrong way, that could also mean a great loss for you. Because of this, you are advised to be extremely watchful and pay close attention to your trades.
• Another risk in trading in forex is how unpredictable the market could be. As much as you may be informed and knowledgeable about the market, accurately predicting what happens next in the market takes a stroke of luck. The market is hard to predict because too many factors can influence it, and you may not know which factor to guard against. To help balance this out, you should set the target win-loss ratio to minimise your losses.
• Trading using leverage is also highly risky. As much as using the leverage tool amplifies your profits, it also amplifies your losses. A single bad trade has the potency to completely wipe out everything that is in your account because losses are automatically deducted from them.
• You may be charged with interests in some particular instances. E.g. your broker may charge you with interest if you carry out trades overnight. These deductions are made directly from your account.

Also Read: How to Check and Block WASP from Stealing Your Airtime

If making money with forex is your goal, then we advise that you take the recommendations contained in this article seriously to make the most out of your trading experience.

The SARS new MobiApp and eFiling site are ways to file taxes online. Taxpayers no longer have to stand in queues or travel long distances to file their taxes. eFiling is a free, secure online service that SARS created to let businesses, taxpayers, and tax practitioners register, submit tax returns and declarations, and make payments related to duties, contributions, taxes, and levies.

The MobiApp has new and more enhanced services that taxpayers can access with/without airtime or data. Taxpayers can now request an eBooking appointment, request a statement of appointment, and receive a Tax Registration Number. Taxpayers can also request to know whether or not to submit a tax return. These new additions benefit taxpayers by reducing the need to go to the physical office with the rise of COVID-19 in South Africa. Despite the coming of the eFiling system and MobiApp, some taxpayers prefer to visit physical Sars branches. Such taxpayers must send an SMS or call the Sars Contact Center to book an appointment. Those with no appointments will not be attended to.

This article discusses filing your tax returns using eFiling and Sars’ new MobiApp.

When does tax returns season start?

The tax filing season started on July 1st. Filing using the MobiApp or eFiling system that Sars currently has is beneficial because Sars temporarily closed its physical offices due to the third wave of coronavirus infections in South Africa. All taxpayers are, therefore, advised to file their taxes online.

Filing returns on eFiling and MobiApp

Taxpayers can choose to file their tax returns through the MobiApp, eFiling site, or at a physical Sars office. These are the steps to file returns using the MobiApp and the eFiling site.

How to file returns on the MobiApp

• Download the MobiApp from the Google Play Store or the App Store on your smartphone or tablet.
• Tap on MobiApp and register if you don’t have an account.
• Enter your username and unique password to log in if you have an account.
• Tap Tax Returns. You will see a pop-up message informing you SARS is generating your tax income returns.
• The Form Creation Wizard will appear on your screen.
• Please carefully read the message and ensure the year of assessment and the tax reference number are correct. The two are located at the top of your screen.
• Click OK if they are correct.
• Fill the various sections of the form wizard that apply to you. This will help SARS create a return that aligns with your situation.
• Fill in all the information that is required of you and check all information against your documents.
• The red sections indicate that you need to provide more information, while the Blue sections indicate that you have provided all the necessary information.
• Collapse a completed section to move to the next section.
• You must declare additional income, such as rental income.
• Add all necessary information in the Deductions section and check that all the information is correct.
• You can tap the Tax Calc to make a tax calculation based on your tax return before submitting it. The calculation will show the returns, and it will be saved automatically.
• Your screen will display that you have successfully submitted your returns.
• Then tap View Assessments and work in line with the prompts that will be displayed on your screen.
• It will display your assessments and let you make payments if necessary.
• Then select for audit or verification.

How to file returns on the eFiling site 

• Visit the SARS website at www.sarsefiling.co.za
• Click log in on the right-hand side of the screen.
• Type in your username and then click Next.
• Then, type in your unique password. It should be strong and composed of characters and letters. For security purposes, do not share your eFiling password with anyone.
• Then click login.
• Check if your name appears under the Taxpayer List to ensure you haven’t logged into another person’s eFile page. Also, check that the page title reads INCOME TAX WORK PAGE. If it doesn’t, check the bottom left-hand side and click the RETURNS ISSUED button.
• The Personal Income Tax (ITR12) will show on the menu on the left when Return Issues opens. Click Personal Income Tax (ITR12) to continue.
• The page’s title will be returned as Search, and it will display the Personal Income Tax (ITR12) returns that you are working on.
• Select a tax year from the selector box to the right of the page and then click Request Return. SARS will generate your tax returns for the year. However, if you have already created your tax return for the year and it is listed, you don’t have to do the next step.
• Click Open on the right-hand side of the blue box.
• Read the information pop-up and see your INCOME TAX WORK PAGE.
• Click ITR12 under return type to take you to your tax return.
• Respond to the questions that are required to give you a specific return.
• Complete your eFiling form and submit it.

Read Also: How to Get My IT3B Tax Certificate Online

Requirements to file for tax returns

• File an IRP5/IT3(a) Employees Tax Certificate if it applies to you.
• File the certificates you received for foreign interest income, local interest income, and foreign dividend income.
• If you are married in a community of property, you and your spouse need to submit the certificates that you (the taxpayer) and your spouse received.
• File the certificates you received if you are married out of community property.
• File documents that are related to your medical expenditure. Here are examples;
• File a completed ITR-DD Confirmation of Disability form if you want to claim expenses related to disability.
• Proof of qualifying medical expenses that you paid. Do not submit proof of medical expenses recovered by a medical scheme.
• If you have a medical scheme, file the income tax certificate from your medical scheme that you received from March 1st to February 28th, 2025.
• File receipts and documents of expenditures that are commission-related.
• File all information that has to do with the letting of assets.
• Have a logbook to claim business and travel deductions if you received a fringe benefit for a vehicle your employer provided or a travel allowance.
• File financial statements for farming activities and trading if applicable.
• Any other documents related to deductions you want to claim or documents or income that you must declare.

Tax season deadline

The 2025 tax filing season opens on 1 July. For individual taxpayers, the tax season ends on 24 October 2025, while provisional taxpayers can file their tax returns until January 2024 using MobiApp or eFiling.