DEDAT Registration

What is a tourist guide

According to the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations a tourist guide is "a person who guides visitors in the language of their choice and interprets the cultural and natural heritage of an area which person normally possesses an area-specific qualification usually issued and/or recognised by the appropriate authority".

Who needs to register as a tourist guide

According to the Tourism Act No. 3 of 2014, all tourist guides must register if they:

• Conduct tours or activities for reward, and
• Furnish information or comments about the places visited or activities undertaken, and/or
• Claim to be a tourist guide.

Requirements to register as a tourist guide

Provincial Registrars are appointed in each of the nine provinces to register tourist guides. To be registered as a tourist guide in South Africa, a person must meet the following minimum requirements:

• be a South African citizen or be in possession of a valid work permit
• must have undergone training with a Culture, Art, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA)-accredited training provider or any other accredited institution which offers training recognized by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)
• be in possession of a valid first-aid certificate from an institution recognized by the Department of Labour and a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA)
• pay a registration fee of R240 (renewable every 3 years)
• submit a recent passport-size photo
• submit a completed and signed registration form and the code of conduct and ethics upon registration (when you apply on the Western Cape Government website your registration form will be automatically populated for you).

What documents do I need for applying as tourist guide in the Western Cape

• South African identify document (either the old, green ID book or a new ID card are accepted)
• Passport and permanent residence permit (if not a South African citizen)
• Valid First-Aid certificate from a recognised training institution
• Training certificates from a recognised training institution
• Letter of competence
• CATHSSETA (or former THETA) certificate or in the case of an Institute of Higher Education, the academic records and diploma/ degree certificate
• Proof of payment (unless you opt to pay by debit or credit card during the application process)
• ID/passport-sized photo (need not be professionally taken)

• When applying, we also ask for the following non-mandatory documents (These documents are only needed if you wish for DEDAT to publish your details publicly stating that you are a professional driver-guide or have specific language competencies).

  • Driver's license
  • Professional driver's license
  • Foreign language competence

The Online Application Process

• For new users of the system, you first need to create an online profile. Remember to write down your username and password as you will require this to sign in at a later stage. To register your user profile visit: https://westerncapegov.custhelp.com/
• Once you have registered you can sign in and complete your application by following the prompts for "Tourist Guide permits" listed under eServices.
• You are also able to register as a new tourist guide, renew an existing permit, order a replacement card or badge, and/or upgrade your registration if you have recently completed additional training.

Information courtesy of The Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism (DEDAT)