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GSSA HEADER ENG

PROJECT Cemetery Records

cemetery projectProject leaders Bernadine Gindra
 
The Project is an initiative of the Genealogical Society of South Africa (GSSA).
 
Description
 
The aim is to preserve information by managing the collection, recording, processing and safekeeping of cemetery data. This is achieved by recording the genealogical information, including birth, death and burial data, plus any personal historical data (e.g. occupation, marriage or any other family relationships) contained in the cemetery records.
  • The data is collected from all types of cemetery sources, including gravestones, burial registers, memorials and cremation memorial plaques.
  • The project covers all cemetery data of South African interest, inside and outside South Africa.
  • A prime focus of the project is the collection of information from the many farm cemeteries that exist throughout South Africa. These have no burial registers and the gravestones are subject to neglect and damage, unlike town cemeteries that are increasingly also under threat.
Deliverables
The Cemetery Records Project transcribes the information from various sources and takes on these records on in-house databases, on a continuous basis. This provides the information to produce two indices: a Cemetery Index and a Gravestone Transcription Index. The Cemetery Index is in essence a list of cemeteries (places) and the Gravestone Transcription Index a list of deceased persons buried in these cemeteries.
 
The GTI is updated on a continuous basis throughout the year: access to the data is obtained via the GSSA Webshop which is updated on a monthly basis.
 
You can Register for free and undertake searches for the data required: for further information the cost is a R1 value token for each person.
 
An annual snapshot of the Gravestone Transcription Index was published as an edition. The latest, GTI Edition 23, with data as at 30 November 2024, contains 955,957 names from 3,916 cemeteries and 4,068 cemetery locations. This edition of the Gravestone Index can be procured as a digital download via the eGSSA’s OnlineShop, and contains the GTI as at the date of the edition. Unfortunately, it has been decided to discontinue future downloads for administrative reasons.
 
Invitation
 
Besides cemetery recording efforts at the various GSSA Branches, we have many volunteers who record data and assist with data processing. You are welcome to contribute to the collection – and the invitation is open to the public.
 
Contact
 
For more information, or if you are interested in helping with recording work, data processing or any other aspect of the project, please contact the Ooordinators, Bernadine Gindra via emaiemail or Riana le Roux via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
Actions
  • Link to the Cemetery Index for downloadable files.
  • Link to the Gravestone Transcription Index for purchase options.
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