What is an affidavit?

It is your own account of events, written down and sworn to in front of a Commissioner of Oaths. Once commissioned it becomes evidence — it can be handed to a bank, an employer, an insurer, SASSA, Home Affairs, or a court as your account of what happened. The person making the affidavit is called the deponent.

Is there an official SAPS affidavit form?

No. There is no single official government form number for a general affidavit. People often call it a "SAPS affidavit" because police stations commission affidavits free of charge, but SAPS stations simply use the standard affidavit layout — deponent details, the statement, the deponent's declaration, and the Commissioner of Oaths certificate. That is the layout this tool fills in for you. Some specific processes do have their own prescribed affidavit forms, such as the SASSA grant affidavits.

Where can I get an affidavit commissioned?

Any Commissioner of Oaths can attest your affidavit. The most common option is a SAPS station, where it is done free of charge. Many post offices, banks, attorneys, notaries and government offices also have a designated Commissioner of Oaths. Whoever you use, they must not have an interest in the matter you are swearing about.

Can I sign the affidavit at home before I go?

No. The affidavit must be signed in the presence of the Commissioner of Oaths — that is what makes it a sworn statement rather than an ordinary letter. Print it with the signature line blank. If you have already signed, the commissioner will normally make you sign again in front of them or ask you to print a fresh copy.

What must I take with me?

Take the printed, unsigned affidavit and your original South African ID document, smart ID card, or passport. The commissioner has to satisfy themselves of your identity before attesting the affidavit. Bring any supporting documents that relate to your statement as well, such as a SAPS case number or a receipt.

How much does an affidavit cost?

At a SAPS station a Commissioner of Oaths attests an affidavit free of charge. Private commissioners such as attorneys may charge a fee for the service. If you are asked to pay at a police station, ask to speak to the station commander.

What is the difference between swearing an oath and affirming?

They have exactly the same legal effect. Taking the oath is the default. If taking a religious oath is against your beliefs or conscience, you may object and make an affirmation instead — you confirm that your statement is true rather than swearing it. Both bind you, and a false statement is a criminal offence either way.

What can make my affidavit invalid?

The most common problems are: signing it before you are in front of the Commissioner of Oaths, not producing an original identity document, the commissioner failing to complete or stamp the certificate, and changes made to the document after it was sworn without both parties initialling them. Blank spaces that could be filled in later are also a reason for an affidavit to be rejected.

What should I actually write in the statement?

Write facts you know first-hand, in the order they happened, in your own words. Give dates, times, places, names, and reference numbers. Avoid opinions, guesses and hearsay — if someone else saw something, they need to make their own affidavit. Keep sentences short and factual; an affidavit does not need legal language to be valid.

Can I use an affidavit as proof of residence?

Often yes. Where you cannot produce a utility bill or municipal account in your own name, many banks and government departments accept an affidavit confirming where you live — sometimes from you, sometimes from the person whose name the account is in. Check what the specific institution requires before you have it commissioned, because their rules differ.

What happens if I lie in an affidavit?

Making a false statement under oath is perjury, a criminal offence that can lead to prosecution. Only state what you know to be true. If you are unsure about a detail, say so in the statement rather than stating it as fact.

Does an affidavit expire?

An affidavit does not expire by law, but institutions frequently set their own recency requirements — commonly that it must not be older than three months. Ask the organisation that requested it how recent it must be before you have it commissioned.

Can someone make an affidavit on my behalf?

No. An affidavit is a personal statement of what the deponent knows, so you must make and sign your own. Someone assisting you may help you write it, and a person who cannot write may make a mark or thumb print in the presence of the commissioner.

What if my statement is longer than one page?

Keep the statement to the essential facts so it fits the space provided. If an affidavit does run to more than one page, you and the Commissioner of Oaths should both initial every page so that no page can be substituted afterwards.

Affidavit (Sworn Statement)

Department of Justice and Constitutional Development · Verified 25 July 2026

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