Moving to South Africa
South Africa has three capitals, two oceans and the continent's largest business centre almost 600 kilometres from the nearest port. That is enough to understand why, when quoting, we ask about the city and not just the country. We prepare moves to South Africa in Wrocław – packing, inventory and loading the container. The voyage, port clearance and delivery are handled by a partner from the FEDEMAC network operating in Southern Africa.
Durban, Cape Town or Gqeberha
| Destination city | Port | Onward route |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg, Pretoria (Gauteng) | Durban | approx. 570 km by rail or lorry to an inland terminal |
| Durban, KwaZulu-Natal | Durban | short delivery after clearance |
| Cape Town, Stellenbosch | Cape Town | delivery direct from the port |
| Gqeberha, Eastern Cape | Gqeberha or Ngqura | local delivery |
From Hamburg or Bremerhaven ships sail along the west coast of Africa. The voyage to Cape Town usually takes about four weeks, and to Durban a few days longer. The whole move to Gauteng, including clearance and the overland leg, most often takes seven to ten weeks.
Clearance with SARS
Customs duties in South Africa are collected and controlled by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). People moving to the country on a permanent residence permit or a longer work visa can bring in used household goods with relief. The same applies to citizens returning after a longer stay abroad. New items and things bought shortly before departure may be subject to duty and VAT.
- A copy of your passport and residence permit or visa.
- A detailed inventory in English with values.
- A customs declaration for unaccompanied goods, which our partner helps to prepare.
- A power of attorney for the customs agent.
- Your address in South Africa and a contact phone number.
Gated estates and security
Access control
Many homes in Johannesburg and Pretoria are on guarded estates. The crew must be registered with security in advance, with vehicle registration numbers.
Working hours
Estates set the hours when they let companies in. Delivery is planned so that it finishes before dark.
Supervision of the load
Belongings are never left unattended outside the house – unloading and carrying in are done in one continuous operation.
Power, sockets and appliances
The voltage in South Africa is 230 V, but the sockets are a different shape from those in Poland, and homes use large three-pin plugs. Most equipment will work with an adapter. Also bear in mind the periodic power cuts that occur in the country – equipment sensitive to power surges is best connected through a surge-protected power strip. Garden furniture and sports equipment must be cleaned before shipping, because agricultural inspection checks for soil and plant debris.
If you are going on a contract with company housing, you can leave some of your furniture in our storage. You will find the general rules for shipping to other continents under intercontinental moving.
South Africa – questions about your move
For Johannesburg, is it better to ship to Durban or Cape Town?
Almost always Durban. From Cape Town the overland route to Gauteng is over 1,400 km, which raises the cost and lengthens delivery.
Will I pay duty on used furniture?
People with the appropriate residence permit usually bring in used goods with relief. We check your status and visa type with our partner before shipping.
How long does clearance in Durban take?
Usually from a few days to two weeks. A physical inspection or missing documents can extend this time.
Can I ship my car?
Importing a used car into South Africa requires a permit and is heavily restricted. In most cases it is better to buy a car locally.
From Wrocław to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban
We will choose the port and route for your address. The quote is free.
Free quote