Western Cape Province, South Africa Genealogy

Guide to Province of Western Cape family history and genealogy: birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

History
The Western Cape is a province, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces and the third most populated. About two-thirds of these inhabitants live in the metropolitan area of Cape Town, which is also the provincial capital. The Western Cape was created in 1994 from part of the former Cape Province. 

Localities
List of cities and townsin Western Cape.

Cemeteries
Find A Grave records for Western Cape, South Africa

Dutch Reformed Church (NGK)

 * 1690-2011 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1838-1991 - at FamilySearch — index and images

The following list contains the names of the parishes located in the Western Cape through 1900, and includes the names of the mother parish.

Civil Registration
Births, marriages, and deaths began to be registered in 1895.

Western Cape Provincial Archives and Records Service

The Head Postal address: Private Bag X9025, CAPE TOWN 8000 Street address: 72 Roeland Street, CAPE TOWN Tel: (021) 466 8100. Fax: (021) 465 2960 E-mail:
 * Archives@pgwc.gov.za  (for General Correspondence)
 * Records@pgwc.gov.za   (for Records Management enquiries)
 * Readroom@pgwc.gov.za (Reading Room Enquiries)
 * Outreach@pgwc.gov.za  (Outreach Activities)

Online Civil Registration Records

 * 1792-1992: South Africa, Cape Province, Western Cape Archives Records, 1792-1992 at FamilySearch - index and images of church records, civil registration, probate estate files, slave records and immigration records for the Cape Province. Further explanations on using these records

Probate Records
See here for a description of what probates are and where they are located.

Online Records
 * 1834-1989 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1871-1937 - at FamilySearch — index and images

Slave Records

 * 1762-1838 - at FamilySearch — index

Vital Records

 * 1895-1972 - at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1955-1966 - at FamilySearch — index and images