The South African National Cancer Registry (NCR) has been conducting national pathology-based cancer registration since its establishment in 1986. Data (demographic, clinical and reporting source) on cancer cases diagnosed either by histology, cytology, bone marrow aspirate and or trephine are submitted to NCR from both private and public laboratories across South Africa. The collected data is cleaned, analysed and reported in the annual cancer incidence report by sex, age and population groups. The national pathology-based cancer registry has been the primary source of cancer statistics for the country and has played a critical role in the development of cancer prevention and control policy for the country.