Ancestry24

Ancestry24 is a family-oriented social network service that allows users to search online for people and ancestors online as well as create an online family tree and learn the basics of Genealogy and Family History in South Africa. Ancestry24 is also known for their digitization of hundreds of thousands of South African records.
Ancestry24 was founded in 2004 and is located in the Cape Town, South Africa. In March 2009, the site had 108 000 registered users and a database of 8 million names. Ancestry24 is funded by subscriptions and it’s parent company Naspers.
The Africa Genome Education Institute, supported by local genealogy website Ancestry24.com, has initiated on a multi-year project to trace the ancient origins of all South Africans; no matter what their language, ethnic origins, or skin colour. The study will fill a gap in the current DNA databases available world wide and establish the diversity of ancestry in the South African population.
Ancestry24 has published over 30 books into electronic format including the omnibus publication called Changing Hands written by Prof. Robert Shell on Slavery and Property at the Cape 1588 - 1888.
One of the main functions of Ancestry24 is the conversion of old records still in paper format into electronic searchable databases. Most of their databases are unique and rare and can only be found here. There agreement with the Anglican Church archives allows them to transcribe church records from founding parishes such as St. Georges Cathedral in Cape Town, St. Francis + St. George’s in Simons Town and St. Paul’s in Rondebosch just to mention a few.
A growing number of databases are harvested by the support of over 300 volunteers who generously give up their time to transcribe these records. Many of the documents transcribed date back to the early 1800’s which are difficult and very time consuming to record. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed.
Ancestry24 also gives the opportunity of allowing people who have private databases of genealogical material or databases that are of a historical nature to be hosted under their Free Section of their website.

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