Once a medical certificate of the cause of death has been issued, either the doctor or the funeral director sends the certificate to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages who will then issue a death certificate to the next of kin upon application. Visit the SA Government's Apply for a death certificate webpage for more information and how to apply.

Regardless of where a person dies, if the doctor cannot, for any reason, issue a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, the doctor must notify the local police. The police will arrange for removal of the body to the nearest hospital where procedures for a coronial inquiry are carried out.