Deeds Registries Act, 1937
Deeds Registries Regulations, 1996
Government Notice 180 of 1996
- Published in Government Gazette 1343 on 1 July 1996
- Commenced on 1 July 1996
- [This is the version of this document at 15 November 2017.]
- [Note: The version of this legislation as at 15 November 2017 was revised and consolidated by the Legal Assistance Centre and the Government of the Republic of Namibia. All subsequent amendments have been researched and applied by Laws.Africa for NamibLII.]
Government Notice 312 of 1996 (GG 1457) came into force on date of publication: 4 December 1996and as amended byGovernment Notice 36 of 2004 (GG 3155) came into force on 17 March 2004 (GN 36/2004)
These amendments were made by the Deeds Registries Regulation Board, with the approval of the Minister.
Government Notice 77 of 2007 (GG 3824) came into force on date of publication: 13 April 2007
These amendments were made by the Deeds Registries Regulation Board, with the approval of the Minister of Lands and Resettlement.
Government Notice 137 of 2009 (GG 4278) came into force on 15 July 2009 (GN 137/2009)
These amendments were made by the Deeds Registries Regulation Board, with the approval of the Minister.
1. Definitions
In these regulations any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Deeds Registries Act, 1937 (Act 47 of 1937) shall bear that meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates-“duly witnessed” means attested as provided in section 95 of the Act;“legal practioner” means a legal practitioner as defined in section 1 of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1995 (Act 15 of 1995);[The word “practitioner” (in the term being defined) is misspelt in the Government Gazette, as reproduced above.]“the Act” means the Deeds Registries Act, 1937 (Act 47 of 1937).2. Deputy Registrar
The Deputy Registrar (if any) may exercise or perform any of the powers, duties or functions of the Registrar-3. Registration divisions and numbering of units
The areas defined as magisterial districts in the Schedule to Government Notice No. 23 of 17 February 1994, shall, from the date of commencement of these regulations, continue to constitute registration divisions, each bearing a distinctive letter to be assigned by the Surveyor-General: Provided that if the boundary of any such registration division crosses unsurveyed State Land, the boundary of such registration division over such State Land shall upon subdivision of such State Land be the nearest cadastral boundary as determined by the Surveyor-General.[regulation 3 amended by GN 36/2004]4.
Whenever an adjustment in terms of the proviso to regulation 3 results in a farm unit falling in more than one registration division, the Surveyor-General shall take the necessary steps to have the boundaries of the registration division affected redefined in such a manner that such farm unit falls wholly within one registration division.[regulation 4 amended by GN 36/2004]5.
For the purpose of identifying erven, settlement holdings or lots (hereinafter called allotment units), the Registrar shall, in consultation with the Surveyor-General-6.
7.
After the numbering of allotment units has been completed within an allotment area as prescribed in regulation 5, the Registrar shall take whatever steps may be necessary-8. Identity of persons
9.
The Registrar may in connection with any deed or document tendered for execution, registration, or record call for evidence to establish the identity or non-identity of any party thereto from any person whose name appears in any register kept in the Registry.10. Preparation of deeds and documents and qualification of persons
11.
The Registrar may decline to allow any signature to a document for the purpose it was intended if such signature has been written across a stamp, or with ink other than black in colour and of good quality, or encroaches on the margin of such document: Provided that the Registrar may in his or her discretion relax the provisions of this regulation.12.
Any space in a deed of 3cm or more which have not been used shall be ruled through and, where a deed comprises more than one page, each page shall be numbered consecutively.13.
If, in the opinion of the Registrar, the writing, typing, or printing in any deed, power, or other document lodged for attestation, execution or registration or for any other purpose, is, owing to the faintness thereof, not calculated to secure durability, he or she may decline to attest, execute, register, or accept it, as the case maybe.14.
15.
Every deed and document executed in or lodged for registration or record in the Deeds Registry shall disclose the place and date of execution thereof.16.
Every deed of title to land for which no form is prescribed, and every deed of title to land for which a form is prescribed wherein provision is made for the inclusion of an extending clause in conformity with these regulations, shall immediately after the description of the property contain an extending clause substantially in the form set out in Form DD or EE in Annexure III to these regulations, whichever may be applicable.[Regulation 16 is corrected by GN 312/1996, which inserts missing words at the end of that regulation. It is then substituted by GN 36/2004.]17.
18.
19.
In the description of land conveyed or hypothecated in a deed or bond the extent thereof shall be expressed in words and figures.20.
In the description of land the term “share” shall be employed when an undivided share in a piece of land is being dealt with, and such share shall be expressed in one fraction in its lowest terms, the method of arriving at the result also being given in complicated cases.21.
22.
No portion of any piece of land shall, save as provided by the Act, be transferred except upon a diagram thereof.23.
When a piece of land has been separated into two or more parts by the deduction of one or more intervening portions thereof, such parts forming the remaining extent shall not be regarded as being separate pieces of land for the purposes of section 40 and 42 of the Act.[Regulation 23 is corrected by GN 312/1996.]24.
Where it is sought to transfer or cede immovable property to, or register mortgage bonds or notarial bonds in favour of persons who have not attained majority, such transfers, cessions, or bonds shall, subject to the provisions of section 25 of the Act, be made in the name of the minors and not in the name of their guardians, tutors, or curators, as the case may be.25.
26.
27. ***
[regulation 27 deleted by GN 36/2004]28.
Where in the circumstances contemplated in the proviso to subsection (1) of section 58 of the Act it is necessary to pass transfer to a rehabilitated insolvent, such transfer may be passed upon a power of attorney signed by the Master of the High Court.29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
The person signing the preparation certificates prescribed by regulations 32 and 33(1) accepts, in terms of section 15A(1) and (2) of the Act, responsibility for the correctness of the undermentioned facts stated in the deeds or documents concerned or which are relevant in connection with the registration or filing thereof, namely:35. Lodgment and execution of deeds
36.
No cession of the balance due under any bond shall be registered until the amount paid in reduction thereof has been noted, nor may any bond, other than a bond to secure future debts, of which part of the capital amount has been repaid be substituted under the provisions of sections 45 and 57 of the Act, until the part payment has been noted.37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
Where in the circumstances provided for in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of section 14 of the Act, a transfer direct to a purchaser is lodged, such deed of transfer shall not be executed unless proof of the value of the immovable property being dealt with is furnished by means of a written valuation by a sworn appraiser.43.
Where a transfer is lodged in the circumstances provided for in section 30(1) of the Act, such transfer shall not be executed unless proof that the land awarded on partition to the owner of any share subject to a fideicommissum is an equivalent of that share, is furnished by means of the written report of a sworn appraiser or of an impartial person proved by the magistrate of the district in which the property is situate.44.
Where a note of expropriation is to be made in terms of section 31(6)(a) of the Act, such note shall not be made unless a certificate has been furnished to the Registrar by the expropriating authority describing the land, giving the name, registered number and registration division and setting out the full names of the registered owner and the number and date of the title.45.
Any person making application to the Registrar for a consolidated title shall, if the diagram of the land in respect of which such application is made does not contain a description of the several pieces of land comprised therein corresponding so far as may be material for purposes of identification with that contained in the existing title-deeds, cause to be lodged with his or her application a certificate containing such description from the Surveyor-General.46.
47.
48.
In the circumstances mentioned in section 76 of the Act, the title-deeds of the land affected shall be endorsed as to the nature of the praedial servitude created in a deed of transfer, but should the description of the servitude be of such a lengthy or complicated nature so as to render an effective reference thereto or a transcription thereof impracticable by endorsement, an extract thereof certified by the conveyancer executing the deed of transfer shall be lodged for annexure by the Registrar to the originals and office duplicates of the deeds affected and a suitable reference to such extract shall be made by the Registrar upon such deeds.49.
50. Powers and certified copies thereof
51. Copies of deeds and other documents
[heading inserted by GN 36/2004]Copies of deeds conferring title to land or to any interest therein and copies of mortgage or notarial bonds, required for information only, shall be issued on the application of any person and the words “Issued for information only” shall be written or stamped on the face of every copy so issued.52.
Where copies of deeds conferring title to land or to any interest therein and copies of mortgage or notarial bonds are required for judicial purposes, they shall be issued on a written application signed by a legal practitioner or any authorized staff member in the Public Service, and the words “Issued for judicial purposes only” shall be written or stamped on the face of every copy so issued.53.
54.
If a certified copy of any document not specified in regulation 53(1) is required by any person, such person may obtain the same upon application and within such period as circumstances permit.55. Miscellaneous
No business shall be conducted with the Deeds Registry by means of correspondence in relation to the preparation, lodgment, or registration of any deed or other document.56.
57.
The holder of a real right mentioned in section 64(1) of the Act may transfer the whole thereof (if transferable), without first obtaining a certificate referred to in that section.58.
Where any act of registration affects a diagram it shall be the duty of the Registrar to notify the Surveyor-General.59. Information
60. Binding of records
Any record cancelled in terms of section 3(1) of the Act may be destroyed by the Registrar-61. Forms and Tariffs
The certificates of title to be issued by the Registrar under the Act, and the further deeds or documents prescribed under the Act or these regulations, shall be prepared substantially in the form of the relevant forms prescribed in Annexure III to these regulations.62.
The certificate of registered title to be issued by a Registrar in terms of section 9(6), 13(6) or 37(10) of the Sectional Titles Act, 1971 (Act 66 of 1971), shall be prepared substantially in the relevant form prescribed in Annexure III to these regulations.63. ***
[regulation 63 deleted by GN 36/2004]64.
The fees of office to be charged in respect of any act, matter, or thing required or permitted to be done in or in relation to the Deeds Registry shall be those specified in the Schedule of Fees of Office set out in Annexure I to these regulations.65.
66. Commencement
These regulations shall come into operation on 1 August 1996.History of this document
15 November 2017 this version
Consolidation
01 July 1996
Commenced
Cited documents 8
Act 6
1. | Administration of Estates Act, 1965 | 1816 citations |
2. | Close Corporations Act, 1988 | 541 citations |
3. | Legal Practitioners Act, 1995 | 247 citations |
4. | Deeds Registries Act, 1937 | 143 citations |
5. | Transfer Duty Act, 1993 | 39 citations |
6. | Identification Act, 1996 | 18 citations |
Ordinance 2
1. | Townships and Division of Land Ordinance, 1963 | 5 citations |
2. | Intestate Succession Ordinance, 1946 | 1 citation |
Documents citing this one 1
Government Notice 1
1. | Regulations relating to the Manner in which Land Surveys shall be Conducted, 2002 |