All producers of sound recordings and music videos of South African origin in South Africa are obliged to deposit a prescribed number of copies of their products with the National Film, Video and Sound Archives for archiving, including back catalogues.

Legal deposit is an old and noble institution. Over the past few decades states all over the world passed new legal deposit laws to include audiovisual productions. The purpose behind this is to preserve and make available, for study and enjoyment, to present and future generations, the artistic and intellectual heritage of the nation. The new South African Legal Deposit Act, Act 54 of 1997, commenced on 1 July 1998. Please refer to the website addresses below for a copy of the Act.

This Act requires a copy or copies of all locally produced and released music and other audiovisual creations to be deposited with one or more of the places of legal deposit. Please see the enclosed table for details. Any producer who fails to comply shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of up to R 20 000.
 
There are many benefits to those who deposit audiovisual productions. For instance, deposited copies can serve as a backup to producers and help ensure that the creator’s work is not lost to posterity. Titles can also be included in the National Bibliography and promote sales.
 
It must be noted that the places of legal deposit adhere to all copyright laws. The National Film, Video and Sound Archives is also not a lending institution and works may only be consulted on its premises.
 
All deposits must clearly be addressed to:
 
THE HEAD: LEGAL DEPOSIT SECTION,
NATIONAL FILM, VIDEO AND SOUND ARCHIVES,
PRIVATE BAG X236,
ARCADIA,
0007.
 
AIRCO and its members’ co-operation in the very important matter of legal deposit will be much appreciated.
 
Yours sincerely,

D P de Waal
for HEAD:  NATIONAL FILM, VIDEO AND SOUND ARCHIVES

PLACES OF LEGAL DEPOSIT

The National Librarian, National Library of South Africa – Pretoria Campus (NLSA-Pta),

PO Box 397, Pretoria 0001; or 165 Andries Street / 239 Vermeulen Street, 0002;

Tel: (012) 321 8931 / (012) 386 1661 (Pretoria West); Fax (012) 325 5704; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The National Librarian, National Library of South Africa – Cape Town Campus (NLSA-CT),

PO Box 496, Cape Town 8000; or 5 Queen Victoria Street, 8001;

Tel: (021) 424 4848; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The Manager, Legal Deposit Section, Mangaung Library Services (MLS),

PO Box 1029, Bloemfontein 9300; or c/o Charles & West Burger Street, 9301;

Tel: (051) 405 8246; Fax: (051) 405 8604; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The Director, Msunduzi Municipal Library (MML),

PO Box 415, Pietermaritzburg 3200; or 260 Churchill Square, Church Street, 3201;

Tel: (033) 345 2383; Fax: (033) 394 0095; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The Chief Librarian, Legal Deposit Section, Library of Parliament (LP),

PO Box 18, Cape Town 8000; or Parliament Building, Parliament Street, 8001;

Tel: (021) 403 2140 x2863; (021) 403 2756; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
The Head, Legal Deposit Section, National Film, Video and Sound Archives (NFA),

Private Bag X236, Arcadia, 0007, or 698 Church Street East, Arcadia, Pretoria ;

Tel: (012) 343 9767; Fax (012) 344 5243; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

PRESCRIBED NUMBER OF COPIES

Type of document       No. of copies*        Places Of Deposit
                                                                          NLSA-Pta     NLSA-CT     MLS     MML     LP      NFA  

 

Multimedia                              5                             1                  1                  1         1          0          1 

Sound recordings                 5                             1                  1                  1         1          0          1  

Videos                                     5                             1                  1                  1         1          0          1

*to be submitted if more than 100 copies are manufactured