South Africa’s postal and courier services explained

Newcomers to South Africa are often wowed by a lot of its key infrastructure—the airports, mobile networks, banking systems and intercity highways are often world-class. The same might not be said of the national postal service at the moment. Luckily, there are many excellent private courier, delivery and moving services if you need to send a letter, a parcel or big and bulky items.

Here is a handy guide to South Africa’s postal and courier services—including typical price ranges, tips for ensuring reliable delivery, and a list of the leading private service providers.

• The South African Post Office
• The costs of sending a letter in South Africa
• What’s considered a letter or a parcel?
• How do I address my letter?
• How long will it take SAPO to deliver a letter?
• Where to post a letter in South Africa
• Parcel delivery services in South Africa
• Who are the leading private courier and delivery services in South Africa?
• Delivering bulky, oversized, or heavy items in South Africa

The South African Post Office

The South African Post Office (SAPO) is a state-owned postal service—and it should be serving a vital public function. It's, however, been chaotic for several years, with frequent delays and parcel losses, and many small local branches have been closed. This has been caused by a combination of falling mail revenue in the digital era, mismanagement and an obsolete business model.

Most South African customers opt instead to use private courier delivery companies, which are fast and reliable, with advanced tracking systems. Some customers still use SAPO for low-stakes, less time-sensitive deliveries, but consider the risks before doing so.

The costs of sending a letter in South Africa

Sending a letter within South Africa can be done through SAPO or most of the private courier services. For standard mail, SAPO is still the cheapest option.

Envelope sizes and prices for sending standard mail within South Africa

Note: Prices are indicative and subject to change.

Envelope sizes and prices for sending international mail from South Africa

Note: Prices vary based on destination country and weight.

What’s considered a letter or a parcel?

Flat, flexible items within specific size and weight limits are considered letters. Anything bulky, rigid, or beyond these limits is deemed a parcel.

For instance, any postal item larger than 250 x 353 mm and/or thicker than 30 mm and/or weighing more than 1 kg is considered a parcel by SAPO.

How do I address my letter?

To ensure—or at least it makes more likely, in the case of SAPO—that your letter gets to the right address in good time, provide these details:

• Recipient's name—written clearly in full.
• Street address—include house number, street name, and an apartment or unit number if there is one.
• Suburb—specify the suburb or township—even if it’s a tiny suburb within a better-known one. While the postcode will help it get to the right postal district, the suburb name will cover your bases.
• City/Town—ensure the town or city name you write is not actually a suburb of a town or city.
• Postal Code—if need be, you can check the postcode.

Write everything clearly and legibly, preferably in ‘print’ handwriting.

How long will it take SAPO to deliver a letter?

Standard Mail

SAPO estimates 2-5 working days within South Africa, but it could well be longer.

Speed Services Couriers

An independent division of SAPO, Speed Services Couriers offers overnight delivery to main centres.

Where to post a letter in South AfricaPost Office Branches

Check whether a listed branch is still operating—it may have been closed.

Street Post Boxes

Red post boxes are located in some public areas, but the collection may not be reliable.

Parcel delivery services in South Africa

Parcels can be sent through SAPO—but it’s safer to opt for private courier services, which are faster, more reliable, and often cheaper.

SAPO currently has a monopoly on all small parcels weighing less than R1kg, but this is being challenged.

Here are the rates offered by SAPO, compared with those of two leading private operators. All the examples are for national (long-distance) destinations, with 2-3 business days delivery time.

Prices of 5kg parcel deliveries

Prices are indicative and may vary based on specific services and distances.

Prices of 15kg parcel deliveries

Prices are indicative and depend on dimensions, weight, and destination.

Prices of 30kg parcel deliveries

Prices are indicative and depend on dimensions, weight, and destination.

Who are the leading private courier and delivery services in South Africa?

In part thanks to SAPO’s woes, South Africa boasts a vibrantly competitive courier and delivery services industry. It’s always worth comparing quotes to get a winning deal. Consider factors like delivery time, insurance, and the convenience for you of door-to-door delivery or branch collection.

Here are ten of the best-known service providers.

The Courier Guy

Established in 2000, The Courier Guy has grown into one of South Africa's top courier companies, known for its reliability and extensive network.

Postnet

PostNet is SA's largest private counter network in the document and parcel industry, trading across over 480 owner-managed retail stores.

Fastway Couriers

Fastway Couriers operate across metropolitan and regional locations in South Africa, offering cost-effective and speedy delivery services.

DHL Express

DHL Express is a global leader in the logistics industry, offering international and domestic courier services with a strong presence in South Africa.

PAXI

PAXI offers an affordable and convenient parcel service through Pep Stores across South Africa, catering to individuals and small businesses.

Aramex South Africa

Aramex provides comprehensive logistics and transportation solutions, including domestic and international courier services.

MDS Collivery

MDS Collivery has one of SA’s leading online order processes for express domestic deliveries, tailored to both businesses and individuals.

RAM Hand-to-Hand Couriers

RAM offers comprehensive courier services, including same-day and overnight options, with a strong focus on security and reliability.

Delivering bulky, oversized, or heavy items in South Africa

Sending large and heavy items (like, say, a piano, or a life-sized sculpture of a rhino) by courier or by post in South Africa can vaporise your wallet. Using a moving company instead is now a cheaper solution. And the moving platform Wise Move makes shipping oversized items more affordable—and simpler to boot.

Unlike traditional courier services, which strictly cap a parcel’s weight and dimensions, the movers who quote for customers on Wise Move can easily move big items by using backloading. This means they use a truck or van’s return journey— after it has been delivered for another customer—to ship your oversized items at a significantly cheaper price than couriers charge.

If Wise Move operators enter your request into their system and see that it matches a trip already on their schedule, and in the opposite direction, then they can quickly bid on your move. This saves them wasted space—and saves you money. And it also gives you the confidence of knowing exactly what you pay upfront. You don’t have to worry about hidden fees or last-minute changes.