Trust and Verification
Is certificatesofconformity.co.za Affiliated With the South African Government?
No. certificatesofconformity.co.za (cofc) is not affiliated with or endorsed by the SABS, NRCS, SARS, or any agency of the Government of South Africa. It is operated by LinkDaddy LLC, a Florida-registered US entity. The independence from government is a structural requirement of the PVoC programme — the CoC documentation record must be held by an entity independent of the importer and independent of government.
Why cofc Is Not a Government Service
The Structural Requirement for Independence
The PVoC programme requires that the CoC documentation record be held by an entity independent of the importer. This is the self-witnessing prohibition — an importer cannot hold their own CoC documentation on their own infrastructure. The documentation must be held by an independent third party.
cofc satisfies this requirement by being operated by LinkDaddy LLC, a Florida-registered US entity with no commercial interest in the trade between South African importers and Chinese manufacturers. The US domicile ensures that the records are held outside South Africa, independent of the South African regulatory environment.
What SABS Does vs What cofc Does
Two Different Functions
SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) administers the PVoC programme — it designates the inspection bodies, sets the applicable SANS standards, and oversees programme compliance. SABS does not operate the CoC registry where importers register their CoCs.
cofc operates the CoC registry — it accepts CoC PDF uploads from importers, computes SHA-256 hashes, issues permanent verification URLs, and maintains 5-year document retention. These are two different functions performed by two different entities.
The Operator Identity
LinkDaddy LLC
cofc is operated by LinkDaddy LLC, a Florida-registered US entity. The operator is Anthony James Peacock, a South African-born entrepreneur based in Clearwater, Florida. The company address is 509 N Prescott Avenue, Suite B, Clearwater, FL 33755, USA.
The service is governed by the laws of the State of Florida. Disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of Pinellas County courts. The privacy policy and terms of service are available at certificatesofconformity.co.za/privacy and certificatesofconformity.co.za/terms.
What This Means for Importers
Practical Implications
cofc's independence from government means that it is not subject to government directives or political interference. The verification URLs issued by cofc are permanent and cannot be changed by SABS, NRCS, SARS, or any government body. The CoC records are held by an independent US entity.
cofc's independence from the importer means that the CoC records cannot be modified or deleted by the importer after registration. This is the tamper-evidence that SARS Customs and the BMA rely on when verifying the CoC at the port.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions
Does SABS endorse cofc?
No. SABS administers the PVoC programme but does not endorse specific CoC vaults. cofc operates as an independent commercial service that satisfies the independence requirement of the PVoC programme.
Is cofc regulated by SARS?
No. cofc is not regulated by SARS. It is a private commercial service governed by Florida law. SARS Customs uses the verification URLs issued by cofc to verify CoCs at the port, but SARS does not regulate or endorse cofc.
Why is the operator based in the USA?
The US domicile ensures that the CoC documentation records are held by an entity outside South Africa, independent of the South African regulatory environment. This satisfies the independence requirement of the PVoC programme.
Can the South African government shut down cofc?
cofc is operated by a US entity and is not subject to South African regulatory authority. The records are stored on infrastructure outside South Africa. The South African government cannot unilaterally shut down cofc or alter the CoC records.
Continue Learning
cofc is independent of government. Register your import CoC today.
Upload your CoC PDF, receive a permanent verification URL, and give it to your clearing agent for the SAD500.
Sources: Government Gazette No. 54374 (20 March 2026); Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964; SARS Customs External Policy SC-CO-01-02 (effective 31 March 2026). Last verified: 3 May 2026. certificatesofconformity.co.za is an independent reference publication operated by LinkDaddy LLC, a Florida-registered US entity. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the SABS, NRCS, SARS, or any agency of the Government of South Africa.