What is an address in South Africa?

Abstract

In this paper, the authors illustrate the need for standardized addresses in South Africa by describing scenarios where standardized addresses are required, or where standardized addresses would improve the current situation. They present the eleven address types described in the current draft South African address standard (SANS 1883), which has been developed under the auspices of the South African National Standards (SANS). The authors show that these address types represent an all-encompassing description of 'an address in South Africa'. The address types have to accommodate the current situation where there are no mandated authorities that assign standardized addresses according to a set of guidelines, and they provide a critical evaluation of this situation to show how it introduces potential for ambiguity. The author’s contribution is threefold: illustrating the need for standardized addresses, showing that there is an all-encompassing description for an address in South Africa, and describe the potential negative impact of the current lack of mandated authorities on unambiguous address specification