Frequently Asked Questions

Oaths.co.za is a secure, cloud-based platform that provides fast, compliant access to digitally certified documents — without the need for in-person appointments or paperwork.

Once your identity is verified through our integration with four trusted third-party identity providers, you can upload your documents (such as the front and back of your ID) for certification.

A duly appointed Commissioner of Oaths — who is also a registered Professional Accountant (SA) — then reviews and certifies your document as a true copy of the original. Each certified document includes:

• A unique serial number
• A digital audit trail
• Secure cloud storage for download or printing at any time

Oaths is designed to keep you fully compliant with South African law, while delivering the speed, security, and convenience modern users expect from a digital-first solution.

Yes. Under South African law, document certification can legally take place through a process known as remote or digital commissioning, provided all legal and procedural requirements are met and the certification is conducted by a duly appointed Commissioner of Oaths.

🔍 How Digital Certification Works on Oaths.co.za

Secure Identity Verification
Users begin by verifying their identity through AI-driven facial recognition and liveness detection, ensuring the individual is present and genuine at the time of submission.

Document Submission & Preparation

Once verified, the user uploads the document they wish to certify (e.g. a Smart ID, Driver’s Licence, Passport or Proof of Residence ). The system then prepares the file for secure digital certification.

Human Oversight & Certification

A Commissioner of Oaths manually reviews each submission and certifies the document as a “Certified Copy of the Original”, applying:

• A unique serial number
• A timestamp
• Their official credentials

The result is a certified PDF that can be used electronically or printed for physical use.

⚖️ Why It’s Legally Valid

South African regulations traditionally require that the deponent be “in the presence” of the Commissioner. However, legal precedent has evolved:

• Courts have affirmed that virtual presence — when securely facilitated through digital platforms — can satisfy the requirement for presence.
• Notably, the 2024 ruling in ED Foods S.R.L. v Africa’s Best (Pty) Ltd confirmed that remote commissioning is acceptable, provided the process maintains legal integrity and trustworthiness.

Additionally, the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECTA) supports the use of digital methods for lawful documentation and authentication processes.

🛡️ Maintaining Legal Compliance: Audit & Integrity

To ensure transparency and legal defensibility, Oaths.co.za maintains a full digital audit trail for every certification:

• Identity verification data (e.g., facial recognition results)
• Document submission timestamps
• Commissioner of Oaths’ credentials and time of certification

These logs are securely stored and available for review if required, ensuring full traceability and compliance with South African law.

At Oaths, certifications are handled by qualified Professional Accountants (SA) who are registered members of the South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) and duly appointed as Commissioners of Oaths in terms of the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act No. 16 of 1963 and Regulation No. 61B.

Each Commissioner is officially recognised and authorised to certify documents and administer oaths in accordance with South African law. This ensures that every certified document issued through the Oaths platform is legally valid and backed by professional accountability.

Oaths.co.za offers a secure digital platform that enables users to obtain certified true copies of important personal documents — quickly, conveniently, and in full compliance with South African law.

We assist with the certification of documents such as:

• Smart ID Cards
• Driver’s Licences
• Passports and 
• Proof of Addresses

All certifications are conducted free of charge by duly appointed Commissioners of Oaths, who are registered professionals acting within their legal authority.

Our platform enhances the process through:

• Digital identity verification
• Secure cloud-based document handling
• 24/7 access to your certified copies — no appointments or physical visits required

With Oaths, certified documents are just a few clicks away, anytime, from anywhere.

Oaths uses cutting-edge AI technology to support identity verification and enhance the security of the certification process. Our platform includes facial recognition, liveness detection, and advanced document analysis to confirm that the individual interacting with the system is real, present, and matches their ID.

This legal tech streamlines the process, reduces administrative burdens, and eliminates delays — allowing users to access certified documents faster and more conveniently. While AI supports the verification process, all certifications are ultimately reviewed and performed by duly appointed human Commissioners of Oaths, in full compliance with South African law.

Oaths facilitates the certification of a range of official documents issued within South Africa. All certifications are performed by duly appointed Commissioners of Oaths and are valid for use within South Africa.

Supported document types include, but are not limited to:

• South African Identity Documents:
  • Smart ID Card (Front and Back)
  • Green ID Book (see limitation below) 
• South African Driver’s Licence
• South African Passport
• Proof of Address (e.g. utility bills, bank statements, official letters not older than 3 months)

⚠️ Note on Green ID Books:
Due to the high risk of counterfeiting and anticipated retirement of the Green ID Book by the end of 2025, Oaths does not currently support certification of Green ID Books through the platform. We recommend using a Smart ID Card for digital certification.

With Oaths’ AI-powered platform, the identity verification and document submission process is completed within minutes — securely and efficiently.

Once your documents are submitted, a duly appointed Commissioner of Oaths reviews and certifies them in line with South African legal requirements.

Our streamlined system is designed to deliver quick turnaround times without compromising on:

• Accuracy
• Compliance
• The integrity of the certification process

Most users receive their certified documents in a few short minutes after submission, all without needing to leave their home or office.

Oaths.co.za redefines how you access certified documents by combining legal expertise, secure cloud infrastructure, and cutting-edge identity verification technology — all in one seamless platform.

We eliminate the frustration of manual paperwork and long queues by enabling fast, secure, and remote certification, available anytime, from anywhere.

🔐 Trusted, Transparent, and Traceable

Every certified document includes:

• A unique serial number
• A tamper-proof audit trail

This ensures full traceability and verifiability, giving recipients confidence in the authenticity of your documents.

👩‍⚖️ Legally Compliant & Professionally Handled

All certifications are performed at no additional cost by duly appointed Commissioners of Oaths, ensuring full compliance with South African law.

Oaths simply makes the process faster, more secure, and more accessible — designed for the digital age.

✅ Stay Compliant. Stay Efficient.

With Oaths, you:

• Meet legal requirements effortlessly
• Avoid paperwork, scheduling, and travel
• Keep your documents certified and accessible 24/7

Oaths puts legal convenience at your fingertips.

You are not paying for the certification itself. Certification is performed free of charge by a duly appointed Commissioner of Oaths, in accordance with Regulation 6 of GN R1258 of 1972, which prohibits charging for administering oaths, affirmations, or certifying documents.

Instead, your annual subscription covers access to the Oaths digital platform, which provides:

• AI-powered identity verification 
• Secure upload and digital submission of your documents
• Encrypted storage and 24/7 access to your certified copies
• Automated alerts when certifications or documents are due for renewal
• Access to the Oaths Verification Portal for third-party validation
• Technical infrastructure, digital audit trails, and support

Your payment supports the convenience, security, and technology that make certification more accessible — but never pays for the certification itself.

Your Oaths.co.za annual subscription gives you secure, uninterrupted access to document certification services and your digitally certified copies — all in full compliance with South African data protection regulations.

🔐 Data Security & POPIA Compliance

Your personal information and certified documents are securely stored on the platform for the duration of your active subscription, including during any renewal periods.

This aligns with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and ensures your data remains protected at all times.

Note: To ensure full compliance, users must be aware of their responsibilities regarding Information Officer registration and PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information Act) obligations if applicable.

🔁 Automatic Renewal

Your subscription automatically renews every 12 months on the anniversary of your initial registration, ensuring uninterrupted access to your account and certified documents — with no manual action required.

• You will receive a reminder 30 days in advance of your renewal date.
• If you choose not to renew, your subscription will expire at the end of the current term, and no further charges will apply.

❌ Cancellations

If you cancel during your active subscription period, your access to the platform and all certified documents will continue until your current 12-month term ends.

There are no refunds for early cancellations, but your service remains available until expiration.

🗑️ Data Retention and Deletion Policy

If your subscription expires and is not renewed:

• All personal data and documents will be permanently deleted after 60 days, unless we are legally required to retain them for a longer period.
• This 60-day window gives you time to download or renew if needed.

Getting certified documents with Oaths.co.za is quick, secure, and completely online. Just follow these easy steps:

1. Create Your Account

Sign up on the Oaths platform by completing a short registration form.

🔒 Note: During registration, you’ll be asked to give permission for facial biometric processing. This allows us to verify your identity securely and complies with privacy laws.

✅ Sample consent:

“I agree to Oaths.co.za capturing and using my facial biometric data for identity verification in accordance with the Privacy Notice.”

2. Verify Your Identity

You’ll be guided through secure, AI-powered facial recognition to confirm your identity.

📸 Important: You will be prompted to upload your Smart ID — this is mandatory for verification. Without your Smart ID, we cannot verify your identity and you will not be able to proceed with certification.

3. Upload the Document You Want Certified

Select the document you want certified — such as a Smart ID, Driver’s Licence, Passport or Proof of Residence — and upload it using your dashboard.

4. Choose a Subscription Plan and Pay Securely

Add your annual subscription plan to your basket and check out using Yoco for safe, hassle-free payment.

5. Certification by a Commissioner of Oaths

A legally appointed Commissioner of Oaths will:

• Review your submission
• Certify the document according to South African law
• Assign a unique serial number and timestamp
• Store the certified document securely in your account
• You can download or print it anytime.

6. Automatic Re-Certification Every 3 Months

To keep your certified documents valid and up to date:

• A Commissioner reviews your identity and documents every 3 months
• If everything is still valid, a new certified copy is automatically issued
• No need to re-upload or re-verify

7. Access Anytime, Anywhere

You’ll have 24/7 access to all your certified documents — no queues, no paperwork, no office visits.

Yes. As a cloud-based platform, Oaths.co.za is accessible from anywhere in South Africa or abroad. Whether you’re living overseas, traveling, or working remotely, South African citizens can securely verify their identity and obtain certified copies of their documents online — without needing to return home.

🌍 Remote access, local compliance.

Please note:

• All certifications are conducted in accordance with South African law by duly appointed Commissioners of Oaths.
• Documents certified through Oaths are primarily intended for use within South Africa. 

If you plan to use your certified documents internationally, we recommend confirming whether the destination country or institution requires additional steps, such as:

• Notarisation
• Apostille certification (via the Department of International Relations and Cooperation)

Yes. If you're a South African citizen living or working abroad, you can use Oaths.co.za to obtain digitally certified copies of your South African documents — including your ID, Driver’s Licence, or Passport.

This service is ideal when certification is required for official use within South Africa, such as:

• Banking and financial services
• SARS submissions
• Insurance applications
• Legal or regulatory compliance (e.g. FICA, RICA, or KYC requirements) 

All certifications are performed by duly appointed South African Commissioners of Oaths in accordance with South African law, and are accepted by local institutions that recognise digitally certified documents.

🌐 No matter where you are in the world, Oaths keeps you connected to the documentation you need — quickly, securely, and legally.

Currently, Oaths.co.za is designed for individual users seeking quick, digital access to certified documents. However, we’re actively working on a dedicated business portal that will enable secure bulk document submissions, streamlined workflows, and administrative control — all while maintaining full legal and professional compliance.

Our business solutions will fully align with:

• The Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 1963, and 
• Regulation 6 of GN R1258/1972, which prohibits charging any fee for the act of certification itself. 

At the heart of our approach is a commitment to legal integrity, data security, and efficient digital infrastructure, powered by appointed Commissioners of Oaths and supported by advanced technology.

If you're a business, corporate institution, legal firm, or financial service provider and would like to explore how Oaths can support your compliance, KYC, or client onboarding needs — we’d love to connect.

Contact us to start the conversation.

Let’s work together to build a smarter, compliant, and accessible future for document certification.