the dti and the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) has, in the interest of harmonising
accreditation and verifications practices put in place a process of phasing out certificates issued by non-accredited
Verification Agencies. A phase out approach is favourable to ensure that further uncertainty is not perpetuated by a
sudden withdrawal of non-accredited VAs from the market.
As a result of the above, as from 1 August 2009 certificates issued by VAs that are accredited and those that are not
yet accredited but have received a valid pre-assessment letter from SANAS will be acceptable in the market. These
certificates will be valid for a period of twelve months. The Minister of Trade and Industry has issued a Government
Gazette Notice 354 of 2009 to this effect.
