What Can't I Send by Courier in South Africa?

Dangerous Goods Regulations in South Africa

South Africa's dangerous goods transport is governed by the National Road Traffic Act (NRTA) and the Hazardous Substances Act. For airfreight, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) apply. These regulations classify dangerous goods into 9 classes — explosives, gases, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidising substances, toxic substances, radioactive materials, corrosives, and miscellaneous dangerous goods.

Standard courier vehicles are not licensed to carry Class 1 (explosives), Class 2 (compressed gases), or Class 7 (radioactive materials) under any circumstances. Class 3 (flammable liquids) and Class 8 (corrosives) require specialist hazmat vehicles with trained drivers and proper placarding — not available on UrgentGo's standard network.

Why Cash Cannot Be Sent by Courier

Cash is one of the most frequently asked-about prohibited items. The reason is simple: cash cannot be insured, cannot be tracked, and creates an unacceptable theft risk for drivers. South African law requires cash-in-transit (CIT) operations to be conducted by licensed CIT companies under the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (PSIRA). Standard couriers are not licensed for CIT operations.

If you need to transfer money, use EFT, PayFast, or a licensed money transfer service. Cheques and money orders are also prohibited as they are bearer instruments.

Lithium Battery Rules for South African Couriers

Lithium batteries are one of the most complex restricted items. The rules differ between road courier and airfreight:

• Road courier: Lithium batteries in devices (phones, laptops, cameras) are accepted. Standalone lithium batteries are accepted up to 100Wh per cell and 300Wh per battery, declared.
• Airfreight: IATA PI 965–970 apply. Batteries must be at 30% state of charge or less for standalone shipments. Devices with batteries follow PI 966/967/968/969/970.
• Power banks: Accepted up to 100Wh on road courier. Not accepted as cargo on passenger aircraft.

Undeclared lithium batteries are one of the leading causes of cargo fires globally. Always declare batteries and follow packaging requirements. Failure to declare lithium batteries voids any insurance coverage and may result in criminal liability.

Sending Alcohol by Courier in South Africa

Alcohol is a restricted item, not a prohibited one — but it comes with conditions. Wine, spirits, and beer can be sent via UrgentGo's road courier network provided:

• The parcel is double-boxed with absorbent material (in case of breakage)
• Declared value cover is added
• The sender accepts liability for breakage during transit
• The recipient is of legal drinking age (18+)

Alcohol cannot be sent via airfreight in quantities exceeding 5L per parcel. Bulk alcohol shipments require a liquor licence and specialist logistics. Sending alcohol to a minor is a criminal offence under the Liquor Act.

Prescription Medication and Courier Rules

Prescription medication is a restricted item that can be sent via courier in South Africa, but only with the correct documentation. The Medicines and Related Substances Act (Act 101 of 1965) governs the transport of scheduled medicines. Schedule 1–4 medicines can generally be sent with a valid prescription. Schedule 5–8 medicines require additional authorisation from SAHPRA.

For cold chain medication (vaccines, biologics, insulin), standard courier is not appropriate. Use our pharmaceutical courier service which provides GDP-compliant temperature-controlled transport with continuous monitoring.

What About Sending Firearms by Courier?

Firearms are completely prohibited on UrgentGo's network. The Firearms Control Act (Act 60 of 2000) strictly regulates the transport of firearms in South Africa. Licensed firearms dealers can transport firearms via specialist licensed carriers — not standard couriers. Ammunition, including blank cartridges and air gun pellets, is similarly prohibited.

If you need to transport a firearm for a legitimate purpose (e.g., sending to a gunsmith for repairs), contact a specialist firearms logistics company that holds the appropriate SAPS authorisation.

Food and Perishables: What Can Be Sent?

Non-perishable food items — canned goods, dry goods, sealed packaged foods — are accepted on the standard network. Perishable food items such as fresh meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables are not accepted on standard courier services because the transit time and ambient temperature cannot be controlled.

For perishable food, you need a cold chain courier with insulated packaging and temperature monitoring. Some baked goods and confectionery with short shelf lives are accepted on same-day services within a metro area, provided they are properly sealed and the sender accepts liability for any spoilage.

Live animals, plants, and seeds are prohibited on all UrgentGo services. These require specialist transport licences and phytosanitary certificates that fall outside the scope of courier operations.

Packaging Requirements for Restricted Items

For items that are accepted with conditions, proper packaging is essential — and required for any insurance claim. Our packaging guide covers specific requirements for fragile items, liquids, electronics, and medical goods. Key principles:

• Liquids must be in sealed, leak-proof primary containers inside a secondary sealed bag
• Fragile items need 5cm of cushioning on all sides
• Electronics with batteries must be protected against short circuit
• Medical specimens must comply with SANS 10234 triple packaging

Restricted items that are improperly packaged will be refused at collection or quarantined at the depot. There are no refunds for parcels that are held due to improper packaging or undeclared restricted items. Always declare the contents accurately when booking.

What Happens if a Prohibited Item is Found in a Parcel?

If a parcel is found to contain prohibited items during transit — whether discovered at a depot, during a vehicle inspection, or through X-ray screening at an airfreight facility — the parcel will be held, and the sender will be notified. Depending on the item, the parcel may be returned to the sender, disposed of, or handed to SAPS or SANAB if it contains illegal substances.

The sender is legally responsible for the contents of any parcel they book for collection. Deliberately misdeclaring the contents of a parcel containing prohibited or dangerous goods is a criminal offence in South Africa under the NRTA and the Explosives Act.

UrgentGo reserves the right to inspect any parcel it suspects contains prohibited items. This is a condition of use for all bookings and is consistent with the terms of all major courier networks operating in South Africa.