Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions people ask most about South African postal codes and about using ZarPostalCodes.
About postal codes
How many digits does a South African postal code have?
Four. Codes run from 0001 to 9999, and each province has its own blocks of numbers. See postal code ranges by province.
What is the difference between a street code and a PO Box code?
A street code is for mail delivered to a physical address. A PO Box code is for post office boxes and private bags. Many suburbs have both, and they are often different. Read street code vs PO Box code.
Is a postal code the same as a ZIP code?
Yes. When a form asks for a ZIP code or postcode, enter your four-digit postal code. Our South Africa ZIP code guide explains the other fields on international forms.
Why do so many suburbs share one code?
A postal code covers a delivery area, not a single suburb. One area can include many suburbs and extensions, so they share a code.
Did postal codes change when towns were renamed?
No. Gqeberha still uses Port Elizabeth’s codes, Makhanda uses Grahamstown’s, and so on. See renamed towns and their codes.
How do I write a South African address correctly?
Name, unit and complex, street number and name, suburb, city or town, then the postal code. Our addressing guide has examples.
Using ZarPostalCodes
How do I find my postal code?
Type your suburb, town or the first digits of a code into the search box at the top of any page, or browse by province. Each suburb page shows its street and PO Box codes with a map.
Why can I not find my suburb?
Try fewer letters, an older or Afrikaans spelling, or the name of the nearest larger town. If it is genuinely missing, let us know and we will look into it.
How accurate are the maps?
Map pins show the post office delivery area for a code, so they are approximate. Use them to see roughly where a suburb is, not to find a street.
Does the “near me” page store my location?
No. Your browser shares your location once for that lookup, and we do not keep it.
About our data
Where does the postal code data come from?
The suburb list follows the South African Post Office postal code listing. Map positions come from GeoNames. Our data sources page explains how we put it together.
Are you part of the South African Post Office?
No. ZarPostalCodes is an independent website. For parcel tracking, PO Box rentals or delivery problems, contact the Post Office or your courier.
A code on your site is wrong. What should I do?
Please send us a correction with the suburb, town and the code you expected. We check every report.