- From Thursday, 15 October, the old Social Development system stops processing registrations, annual reports and updates. Everything moves online.
- The department will not accept manually submitted documents at any office, and warns of scammers.
Non-profit organisations registered with the Department of Social Development have until Thursday, 15 October, to move to the department’s new online system. After that, the old system will not process anything.
The change affects registered non-profit organisations (NPOs), such as community groups and charities. From 15 October, anyone who tries to use the old system will be sent to the new one, where they must create or open their profile. Registration applications, annual compliance reports and requests to update information must all be done there. The department will not accept manually submitted documents at any of its offices.
The department introduced the new system on 1 September 2025 and moved to it in three phases. Because of technical problems, the old system had to keep running alongside it, mainly for annual compliance reports and requests to update information. The department said running both systems affected how data was moved across, and that some organisations struggled to see their records on the new system. It said it has since put measures in place to fix these problems.
Through the new system, organisations can:
apply to register;
submit annual compliance reports and other required documents;
update their contact details, office bearers and founding documents;
see their profiles, registration certificates and compliance letters;
track applications and requests they have sent to the department;
use an online library on registration and compliance rules; and
use a mobile app available on the main app stores.
The department said records and personal information are protected during the move, in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act. If an organisation’s information is not showing on the new system, that does not necessarily mean it has been lost or deleted, the department said. Organisations that cannot access their records should report the problem through the department’s official support channels.
The department also warned organisations and the public to watch for scammers who may try to take advantage of the change. Use only official Department of Social Development platforms. Never share passwords, one-time PINs or confidential information with people you do not know. If someone asks you to pay for registration, reporting or activating your profile, check with the department through its official channels first.
The new system is also designed to check information with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, the South African Revenue Service and the Department of Home Affairs. It is meant to share information with funders such as the National Lotteries Commission. The department said it will help it administer the Nonprofit Organisations Act, which was amended in 2022 to fight money laundering and terrorism financing.
