Steve I've been researching SA records for many years and SAGenealogy have indexed their records from the former district registers. I have all the CD's they have produced in association with McBeth Genealogy. Births from 1842-1928; marriages from 1842-1937 and to 1942 soon, and deaths to 1972.
I still can't see where on that link you posted anything about records being 'patchy'. Must need new specs
Cando