What does SG stand for?

Surveyor-General. The Chief Surveyor-General and the provincial Surveyor-General offices approve and keep every land survey in South Africa.

Is an SG diagram the same as a title deed?

No. The title deed records ownership; the SG diagram defines the land's boundaries and extent. The title deed refers to the diagram.

Where do I find the SG diagram number?

On the title deed, which quotes the diagram it was registered against. ErfCheck shows the parcel's SG code and links to its diagram list.

Do sectional title units have SG diagrams?

Units are shown on the scheme's sectional plan. The land the scheme stands on has an ordinary SG diagram.

Guides

SG diagrams: what they are, and how to get one free

An SG diagram is the survey drawing of a piece of land approved by the Surveyor-General. The title deed says who owns the land; the SG diagram says exactly what the land is. The Chief Surveyor-General publishes diagrams free of charge; deeds-search sites charge R225 to R235 to fetch the same document. ErfCheck takes you straight to it, free.

Get the SG diagram for an address or erf, free

Free: erf number, township, last registered sale and imagery. No owner names.

Open the record, then "Free SG diagram" under the property details: it lists every diagram and general plan the Surveyor-General holds for that parcel.

What it shows

The boundary lines and the length of each side.
The corner beacons (pegs) that mark the boundary on the ground.
The extent (area) of the land.
Servitudes registered over it, such as rights of way or municipal pipelines.

A whole township is surveyed on a general plan, which shows every erf in it. A sectional title scheme has a sectional plan that shows each unit.

When you need one

Building plan submissions, boundary walls and fencing disputes, subdivisions and consolidations, rezoning applications and many transfers.

How to get the SG diagram for an erf

Find the parcel. Type the address or erf number into ErfCheck. The record shows the parcel outline from the Surveyor-General's cadastre, its extent and its 21-character SG code.
Open the diagram list. The record links straight to the Chief Surveyor-General's document system for that SG code, where the diagrams and general plans for the parcel are listed.
Or ask a professional. A land surveyor or conveyancer can obtain certified copies, and commercial services sell them online.

Free: erf number, township, last registered sale and imagery. No owner names.

Reading the SG code

The SG code packs the parcel into 21 characters: eight for the registration division or township, eight for the erf or farm number, and five for the portion. Erf 575 Sandown is T0IR0591 00000575 00000: township code T0IR0591, erf 575, no portion. Unlike an erf number, the code is unique across the country.

Questions

What does SG stand for?: Surveyor-General. The Chief Surveyor-General and the provincial Surveyor-General offices approve and keep every land survey in South Africa.
Is an SG diagram the same as a title deed?: No. The title deed records ownership; the SG diagram defines the land's boundaries and extent. The title deed refers to the diagram.
Where do I find the SG diagram number?: On the title deed, which quotes the diagram it was registered against. ErfCheck shows the parcel's SG code and links to its diagram list.
Do sectional title units have SG diagrams?: Units are shown on the scheme's sectional plan. The land the scheme stands on has an ordinary SG diagram.