This is a guide to help new and prospective members understanding what is required to obtain full membership to the ABC. You may only apply for membership once you have published at least 1 issue.

Steps of the process:

1. Complete the application for membership and pay the non-refundable administration fee – step two follows only after payment is received.

2. An ABC auditor will e-mail an auditability questionnaire for you to complete,

   - Note the following with respect to the questionnaire:

   • All members are required to have an auditor who is registered with IRBA (Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors) to perform the audit on the circulation.
   • New members must select a category for their circulation (refer to Appendix A of the rules, for a description of the various categories)
   • All new members report according to ABC cycles:
     1. Quarterly - titles printing 11 or more issues per annum
     2. Six Monthly - titles printing between 6 and 10 issues per annum
     3. Annual - titles printing 5 or less issues per annum

   - Once the questionnaire is completed and the ABC auditor is satisfied with all the information, step 3 follows.

3. The ABC will send you a letter granting you provisional membership and when your initial certificate is required to be submitted to the ABC.

   - Your initial certificate will depend on your ABC cycle from above:

   1. Quarterly – Jan-Mar, April-June, July-September or October-December
   2. Six Monthly – January to June or July to December
   3. Annual – January to December of July to June

   - You may apply for a certificate covering a shorter period under certain circumstances.

4. When your initial certificate is due (usually 20 days after the end of the applicable cycle):

   • log onto the website (www.abc.org.za)
   • click on +ABC MEMBERS (on your top right hand side)
   • enter your ID number and password
   • click on Input Data (on the left hand side below members area)
   • your publication will then be listed (click on the right hand side, the letters will be in blue– Input/edit data)
   • complete the input form with your circulation figures and save the form (do not tick the check box yet as the form will be inaccessible to you) – there should be no balancing difference at the bottom
   • If there are no differences and you are happy with the figures, tick the checkbox at the bottom of the form and save the form.
   • The ABC will verify the input form to ensure that all the information is complete – an e-mail will be sent to you once the input form has been processed or a revision has been requested.
   • You will then be able to print the audit certificate

   • The audit certificate needs to be signed by you and stamped by the auditor completing the audit.

     • The auditor needs to audit the input form and submit his/her original audit report together with the audit certificate to the ABC.
     • It is advised that all deadline dates are clearly understood.

5. After your initial audit certificate AND audit report is submitted to the ABC:

   • You will receive a letter from the ABC granting you full membership.
   • You may only use the ABC logo in your marketing material after full membership is granted.

6. Submit circulation figures thereafter in accordance to your ABC cycle.

Costs Involved:

1. Application fee
2. Annual fee based on circulation – refer to the fee schedule on the website
3. udit fee – dependent on your auditor

All information should be clearly understood at the time of completing the application for membership.

If any information is unclear, please contact the ABC.