[8] Membership is open to anyone from any country in any profession, though most members are South Africans who are translators.

Candidates taking the translation, editing and terminology examinations are given 24 hours to complete a number of texts at their own premises.

To counteract the possibility of cheating, the translators' exams are particularly difficult, and the specific preferences of examiners are not made known to candidates.

The interpreter examinations are held once or twice a year at different centres across the country, depending on demand.

The institute is run by an executive comprising a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, registrar and treasurer.

Members of the executive are elected at an annual general meeting for a period of three years.

Publications produced by the Institute are the Sworn Translation manual (guide to the practice of sworn translation in South Africa), and Bridging Language Barriers: SATI – The First Fifty Years (a history of the institute).

In 1979 MAY, SATI applied for and registered a coat of arms at the South African State Herald.