South Africa
Africa · 18 specs
Direct Answer
South Africa (ZA / ZAF / 710) operates on a 230 V / 50 Hz electrical grid using Type C (Europlug), SANS 164-1 (Type M 16 A), and SANS 164-2 (Type N) sockets. Traffic drives on the left (LHT). The official currency is the South African Rand (ZAR, R), country calling code is +27, emergency dispatch is 10111 (Police) / 10177 (Ambulance), and standard paper format is ISO 216 A4.
Source: SABS (South African Bureau of Standards) / SANS 164 / ICASA / ISO 3166-1 / South African Post Office · Last reviewed Aug 28, 2026
Specs
| Official English Name | Republic of South Africa ISO 3166-1 |
| Local Endonym | Republiek van Suid-Afrika / IRiphabhuliki yeSewula Afrika |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-2 | ZA (Zuid-Afrika code) |
| ISO 3166-1 Alpha-3 | ZAF |
| ISO 3166-1 Numeric / UN M49 | 710 UN M49 (Code 002) |
| Country Calling Code | +27 ICASA (ITU-T E.164) |
| International Exit Code (IDD) | 00 |
| Internet ccTLD | .za ZADNA Registry |
| Vehicle Registration Code | ZA SABS Plate Standard |
| National Currency (ISO 4217) | South African Rand (ZAR, R) 100 Cents (c) |
| Mains Electricity Standard | 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz SANS 10142-1 (Wiring of Premises) |
| Electrical Plug Sockets | Type C (Europlug), Type M (SANS 164-1 16 A) & Type N (SANS 164-2 / IEC 60906-1) 2 round pins (Type C); 3 large round prongs (Type M); hexagonal (Type N) |
| Road Traffic Driving Side | Left-Hand Traffic (LHT / RHD) National Road Traffic Act |
| Primary Measurement System | Metric (SI) NMISA Standard |
| Standard Office Paper Format | ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm) SANS 216 |
| Consolidated Emergency Number | 10111 (Flying Squad Police) / 10177 (Ambulance) / 112 (Mobiles) Direct Service Dispatch |
| Postal Code Regex / Format | 4 Digits (NNNN, e.g. 0001 Pretoria, 2000 Johannesburg) SAPO Standard |
| Primary Time Zone | UTC+2 (SAST–South African Standard Time) No DST |
Electrical Grid, Voltage & Plug Compatibility
- Nominal Grid Parameters: Operates on a single-phase standard of 230 V (±10%), 50 Hz.
- Plug & Socket Hardware: Type C (Europlug), Type M (SANS 164-1 16 A) & Type N (SANS 164-2 / IEC 60906-1). South Africa's grid is legacy round-pin Type M plus modern Type N, and compact 2-pin Type C Europlugs are also widely accepted for small appliances -- three plug types are genuinely in everyday use, not just the two SANS-standard ones.
- International Traveler Guidance: Devices operating on 100–240 V (smartphones, laptops) require only a mechanical pin adapter. Single-voltage appliances from differing voltage regions require a certified step-down/step-up power transformer.
Telecommunications, Dialing & Emergency Dispatch
- International Dialing: The country calling code is +27. Outbound international calls from within the country require dial prefix 00 followed by the destination country code.
- Emergency Dispatch: Consolidated emergency services are reached at 10111 (Flying Squad Police) / 10177 (Ambulance) / 112 (Mobiles). Calls are automatically routed to local public safety answering points with emergency vehicle dispatch.
Transportation, Driving Standards & Road Regulations
- Traffic Flow: Road traffic drives on the left (LHT) with Right-Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles.
- Standard Speed Limits: General regulatory speed limits default to 50 km/h (31 mph) in built-up urban and residential zones, 80–100 km/h (50–62 mph) on undivided rural roads, and 110–130 km/h (68–81 mph) on grade-separated divided motorways/expressways (unless lower local limits are posted).
- Safety Requirements: Mandatory seatbelt compliance for all occupants, zero-distraction handheld mobile phone bans while driving, and mandatory in-vehicle warning triangles.
Commerce, Currency & Document Standards
- Official Currency: Legal tender is the South African Rand (ZAR, R).
- Document & Paper Standards: Standard office printing, official government gazettes, and legal filings strictly utilize ISO 216 A4 (210 × 297 mm). Standard business correspondence pairs with standard business envelopes.
- National Time Zone: Regulated under UTC+2 (SAST–South African Standard Time).
Postal Addressing & Administrative Divisions
- Postal Architecture: Postal delivery utilizes 4 Digits (NNNN, e.g. 0001 Pretoria, 2000 Johannesburg).
- Standard Address Format: Structured in standardized hierarchy: Recipient Name → Street Address / Building Unit → Postal Code + City/Town → Province/State → Republic of South Africa.