ZarPostalCodes

How to Address Mail and Parcels in Rural Areas, Villages and Townships

Many villages and some townships have no formal street address. How to write an address that still reaches you, and help a courier find you.

By the ZarPostalCodes team Updated 2 min read

Millions of South Africans live in villages, informal settlements or newer townships without official street names or house numbers. Mail and parcels can still reach you if you give the right details in the right order.

For letters: use a PO Box or the nearest post office

  • A PO Box or private bag at the nearest post office or postal agency is the most reliable option. Use its PO Box code.
  • Many villages only have a PO Box code in the Post Office list for this reason. If your village is listed with a box code only, mail is collected rather than delivered to the door.

For couriers: describe how to find you

  • Write the village or section name and any stand or erf number you have.
  • Add a landmark: “opposite the clinic”, “next to Mabaso Tuck Shop”.
  • Always include a mobile number. Drivers phone ahead in areas without street names.
  • Use the nearest town’s street code if your village has no street code, and check with the courier first.
  • Consider a pickup point or locker in town. See how lockers and pickup points work.

Example

Village address for a courier (example)Nomsa Mahlangu
Stand 1234, Section B
Near the community hall
[Village name]
[Nearest town]
[Postal code of the village or nearest town]
Phone: 07x xxx xxxx

Find the codes for your village and the nearest town:

Frequently asked questions

My village only has a PO Box code. Can I use it for a courier?

Some couriers accept it with a good description and phone number, others need a street code. Ask the courier or choose a pickup point in the nearest town.

What is a stand or erf number?

The number of the plot of land on municipal or traditional authority records. It helps couriers and municipal services find a property without a street address.

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