120m max height
50m away from people
500m max range
Only line of sight
The South Africa National Aviation Authority, SACAA developed a list of regulations for all drone users countrywide. The rules apply to both commercial and recreational drone users. The country is also considered one of the very first to introduce rules on RPAS.
Before visiting the South African region, you might be wondering whether drones are legal or not.
The answer is, Yes! Drones are now legalized in the country since 2015. But, there are several conditions that every user must adhere to. These regulations were developed to promote the security of both people and properties within the state.
Next, we will learn about all the rules and regulations for commercial and recreational drones that you must follow when flying your drone in South Africa.
To get in touch with the Civil Aviation Authority, limit your reach out during official work hours.
Contact information
Johannesburg
Email: rpasinbox@caa.co.za
Tel: +270115451000
Cape Town
Email: rpasinbox@caa.co.za
Tel: +270219344744
The next thing that you might be thinking about is whether you can bring your drones to South Africa or not. This question troubles most people since there are different rules and regulations for drones in different airports.
The answer to this question is definitely yes, you can bring your drone to South Africa without any issue at all. However, the drone that you are bringing to the country must be in your possession and in your name.
Now that you've learned all the basic information about drones in South Africa, let's get into the rules. As mentioned earlier, there are rules for both commercial and recreational drones therefore, you must follow them accordingly.
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If you wish to fly your drone just for the sake of fun and recreation, then you must learn about all the rules that you need to follow first.
Before we go dive deep into the rules and laws, let me clarify the difference between commercial and recreational drones first.
Drones that are used solely for the sake of recreation with no commercial outcomes, gain, or interest and recreational drones. In order to fly recreational drones in South Africa, the Pilot needs to follow all the below-mentioned rules and regulations.
Going by law, South Africa requires any use of drones that results in a transactional exchange to be classified as commercial drone use.
If you fall under this category you need a drone license yourself and registration for the drone. In the event you are a foreigner with a drone pilot license, you should have it validated and approved by contacting gouwene@caa.co.za
The eligibility test for commercial drone use is:
Since you've learned about different rules and regulations for drones in South Africa it's time to learn about the locations where you are allowed to fly your drone in South Africa. We all know that South Africa is quite big but you don't have to memorize all the places, we've got you covered.
A look at the app will point out the areas that need attention and those that do not. Avoid going near any military infrastructure or any property of national significance.
You can fly your drone in all national parks but you will have to take a permit first. In terms of restricted airspace, you are not allowed to fly within the vicinity of any airport without prior permission from the authorities.
Contact a registered training academy in the country. You can find them here. The license is generally in two parts:
The license remains valid for two years from the date it was certified. Upon certification, fill out this form.
The registration process is quite simple just like in any other country. To register your drone, you will need to fill out this form (Form CA-47R1) and submit it to the authorized body. After registering your drone, you will be given a registration number that must be displayed on the drone at all times while flying.
To be eligible for drone registration, you should be 16 years old.
As with everywhere else, the severity of your punishments depends on the charge levied against you. If you are lucky, you will part with a hefty fine of 3,500 Rand. If unlucky, you are looking at 10 years worth of jail time.
My following two recommendations are 2 great compact drones that are quite silent and also small enough to travel with and not stand out as annoying.
4k
31 min
10 km
No follow-me
DJI has surprised us with this incredible camera drone under 250g, which is legal to fly in most countries without registration.
It comes at a very cheap price for its incredible specs.I have covered it much more in-depth in my article review and even compared it with the Mavic Air 2.
4k 60p
34 min
10 km
Follow me
If you want more control over things like shutter speed, iso, and such, the best professional drone that still falls under the 500g category is the DJI Mavic Air.
It's made mostly for people who want to play around with settings and enter into the pro category.
DJI lowered its price since it was first released.
The best way to figure out what areas you can fly in, while you're here is by consulting DJI's official map.
They do a great job mapping the places that one should avoid while flying in every country:
These would be the current updated drone laws for South Africa. I suggest checking my full map with all the countries' drone laws to see where it's best to travel.
If you are going to visit South Africa, make sure you’ve learned all the dos and don’ts of flying drones in this region. This will help you have a safe journey and enjoy flying your drone without getting yourself into trouble.
Also, keep in mind that, commercial and recreational drones are treated differently in most countries therefore you will need to prepare yourself accordingly. Last but not least, always follow rules and regulations and make sure to respect the laws of every country.
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