What is Legal Deposit in South Africa?
In line with international practice, the South African Government requires all publishers/producers of publications (including audio-visual productions) to deposit a certain number of copies of each of their published documents in designated legal deposit libraries in South Africa.
The current Legal Deposit Act, No. 54 of 1997 was promulgated on 1 July 1998.
The purpose of legal deposit is to collect, preserve and make available to present and future users the documents that contain the intellectual and cultural heritage of our country.
Legal deposit is mandated by law and administered by the Ministry of Arts and Culture via an appointed Legal Deposit Committee, to ensure that South Africa's cultural heritage is preserved for future generations.
Click here for useful information about legal deposit, the purpose and benefits of legal deposit, and publishers’/producers’ obligations in terms of the Legal Deposit Act.