# Road signs in South Africa

Road signs in South Africa are based on the SADC-Road Traffic Sign Manual, a document designed to harmonise traffic signs in member states of the Southern Africa Development Community. Most of these signs were in the preceding South African RTSM.
A white background signifies the sign is permanent, while a yellow background signifies that the sign is temporary. Warning signs are an upwards-pointing red triangle and contain a black pictogram describing the danger or obstruction. Speed limit signs are a red circle with the limitation in black. South Africa drives on the left.

## Permanent road signs
### Regulatory signs
#### Control signs

* Stop
* Stop. Two stop
* Stop. But drivers turning left must give way / yield
* Stop (3-way)
* Stop (4-way)
* Stop / Go manual control sign
* Give Way / Yield
* Give Way / Yield to pedestrians
* Give way / Yield to Equestrians
* Give way / Yield to pedestrians and equestrians
* Give Way / Yield at roundabout
* No entry
* One-way roadway
* One-way roadway
* One-way roadway
* Pedestrian priority zone
* Give Way / Yield to oncoming traffic

#### Command signs

* Minimum speed limit
* Vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM only
* Keep Left
* Keep Right
* Turn Left
* Turn Right
* Proceed Straight
* Turn left ahead
* Turn right ahead
* Pedestrians only
* Cyclists only
* Cyclists and pedestrians only
* Cyclists and pedestrians only
* Cyclists and pedestrians only
* Cyclists and pedestrians only
* Motorcycles only
* Motorcars only
* Taxis only
* Mini-buses only
* Midi-buses only
* Buses only
* Delivery vehicles only
* Goods vehicles exceeding 3500 kg only
* Goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM only
* Construction vehicles only
* Vehicles transporting dangerous substances only
* Abnormal vehicles only
* Rickshaws only
* Tour buses only
* Agricultural vehicles only
* Animal-drawn vehicles only
* Toll road
* Switch headlamps on
* Buses and mini-buses only
* Buses and midi-buses only
* Buses, midi-buses and mini-buses only
* Roundabout
* Trams only
* Buses and trams only
* Buses, trams and mini-buses only

#### Prohibition signs

* Speed limit of 5 km/h
* Speed limit of 10 km/h
* Speed limit of 20 km/h
* Speed limit of 30 km/h
* Speed limit of 40 km/h
* Speed limit of 50 km/h
* Speed limit of 60 km/h
* Speed limit of 70 km/h
* Speed limit of 75 km/h
* Speed limit of 80 km/h
* Speed limit of 90 km/h
* Speed limit of 100 km/h
* Speed limit of 120 km/h
* Vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes GVM prohibited
* End of weight limit
* Vehicles exceeding 2 tonnes on a single axle prohibited
* Vehicles exceeding 4.42 metres in height prohibited
* Vehicles exceeding 15 metres in length prohibited
* Excessive noise prohibited / Hooting prohibited
* Hitch-hiking prohibited
* Unauthorised vehicles prohibited
* Left turn prohibited ahead
* Right turn prohibited ahead
* Left turn prohibited
* Right turn prohibited
* U-turn prohibited
* Overtaking prohibited
* Overtaking prohibited for heavy vehicles
* Parking prohibited
* Stopping prohibited
* Pedestrians prohibited
* Cyclists prohibited
* Cyclists and pedestrians prohibited
* Motorcycles prohibited
* Motorcars prohibited
* Taxis prohibited
* Mini-buses prohibited
* Midi-buses prohibited
* Buses prohibited
* Delivery vehicles prohibited
* Goods vehicles exceeding 3500kg prohibited
* Goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM prohibited
* Construction vehicles prohibited
* Vehicles transporting dangerous substances prohibited
* Abnormal vehicles prohibited
* Rickshaws prohibited
* Tour buses prohibited
* Agricultural vehicles prohibited
* Animal-drawn vehicles prohibited
* Horses and riders prohibited
* Vehicles exceeding 2.1 metres in width prohibited
* Towed vehicles prohibited
* Hawkers prohibited
* Motorcycles and motorcars prohibited
* Vehicles exceeding 12 tonnes on a tandem axle / bogie axle prohibited

#### Reservation signs

* Reserved for buses
* Reserved lane for buses
* Start of a reserved lane for buses
* Reserved lane for bicycles
* Reserved for motorcycles
* Reserved for motorcars
* Reserved for taxis
* Reserved for mini-buses
* Reserved for midi-buses
* Reserved for delivery vehicles
* Reserved for goods vehicles
* Reserved for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM
* Reserved for construction vehicles
* Reserved for vehicles transporting dangerous substances
* Reserved for abnormal vehicles
* Reserved for rickshaws
* Reserved for tour buses
* Reserved for high-occupancy vehicles
* Reserved for ambulances / emergency vehicles
* Reserved for police vehicles
* Reserved for vehicles carrying disabled passengers
* Reserved for diplomatic vehicles
* Reserved for buses and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for buses and mini-buses
* Start of a reserved lane for buses and mini-buses
* Reserved for buses and midi-buses
* Reserved lane for buses and midi-buses
* Start of a reserved lane for buses and midi-buses
* Reserved for buses, midi-buses and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for buses, midi-buses and mini-buses
* Start of a reserved lane for buses, midi-buses and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for high-occupancy vehicles
* Start of a reserved lane for high-occupancy vehicles
* Reserved for trams
* Reserved lane for trams
* Start of a reserved lane for trams
* Reserved for buses and trams
* Reserved lane for buses and trams
* Start of a reserved lane for buses and trams
* Reserved for buses, trams and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for buses, trams and mini-buses
* Start of a reserved lane for buses, trams and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for buses
* Reserved lane for buses and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for buses and trams
* Reserved lane for buses, trams and mini-buses
* Reserved lane for high-occupancy vehicles
* Reserved lane for authorised vehicles
* Reserved lane for authorised vehicles

#### Parking signs

* Parking for buses
* Parking for bicycles
* Parking
* Parking with a 60-minute limit
* Parking for motorcycles
* Parking for motorcars
* Parking for taxis
* Parking for mini-buses
* Parking for midi-buses
* Parking for delivery vehicles
* Parking for goods vehicles
* Parking for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM
* Parking for construction vehicles
* Parking for vehicles transporting dangerous substances
* Parking for abnormal vehicles
* Parking for rickshaws
* Parking for tour buses
* Parking for high-occupancy vehicles
* Parking for ambulances / emergency vehicles
* Parking for police vehicles
* Parking for vehicles carrying disabled passengers
* Parking for diplomatic vehicles
* Parking for buses and mini-buses
* Parking for buses and midi-buses
* Parking for buses, midi-buses and mini-buses

#### Comprehensive signs

* Dual-carriageway freeway begins
* Single-carriageway freeway begins
* Living Street / Woonerf begins

#### Selective restriction signs

* Applies during the specified hours
* Applies during the specified hours
* Applies during the specified days and hours
* Applies during the specified days and hours
* Parking is permitted within the days and hours specified, with a 30-minute limit
* Parking is permitted within the hours specified, with a 60-minute limit
* Applies during the day-time hours
* Applies during the night-time hours
* Applies to the left
* Applies to the right
* Applies to the left and right
* Pay and display parking
* Applies to vehicles exceeding 16 tonnes GVM
* Applies to motorcycles with an engine size up to 125 cc
* Traffic requiring local access also permitted
* Applies for 5 kilometres
* Maximum number of spaces in a parking reservation
* Applies to buses
* Applies to cyclists
* Applies to motorcycles
* Applies to motorcars
* Applies to taxis
* Applies to mini-buses
* Applies to midi-buses
* Applies to delivery vehicles
* Applies to goods vehicles
* Applies to goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM
* Applies to construction vehicles
* Applies to vehicles transporting dangerous substances
* Applies to abnormal vehicles
* Applies to rickshaws
* Applies to tour buses
* Applies to high-occupancy vehicles
* Applies to ambulances / emergency vehicles
* Applies to police vehicles
* Applies to vehicles carrying disabled passengers
* Applies to diplomatic vehicles
* Applies to agricultural vehicles
* Applies to animal-drawn vehicles
* Applies to towed vehicles
* Applies to trams

#### De-restriction signs

* End of minimum speed limit
* End of toll route
* Switch headlamps off
* End of dual-carriage freeway
* End of single-carriage freeway
* End of living street / woonerf

### Warning signs

* Crossroad ahead
* Crossroad ahead with priority
* Crossroad ahead without priority
* T-junction ahead
* Skewed T-junction ahead
* Skewed T-junction ahead
* Side-road junction ahead
* Side-road junction ahead
* Staggered side-road junctions ahead
* Staggered side-road junctions ahead
* Sharp junction ahead
* Sharp junction ahead
* Sharp junction ahead
* Sharp junction ahead
* Fork ahead
* Dual-carriageway ends ahead
* Dual-carriageway ends ahead
* Dual-carriageway begins ahead
* Dual-carriageway begins ahead
* Roundabout ahead
* Gentle curve ahead
* Gentle curve ahead
* Sharp curve ahead
* Sharp curve ahead
* Hairpin curve ahead
* Hairpin curve ahead
* Winding road ahead
* Winding road ahead
* Series of curves ahead
* Series of curves ahead
* Two-way traffic ahead
* Two-way traffic crossing ahead
* Right lane ends ahead
* Left lane ends ahead
* Concealed driveway ahead
* Concealed driveway ahead
* Concealed driveways ahead
* Traffic signal ahead
* Stop control ahead
* Give Way / Yield control ahead
* Pedestrian crossing ahead
* Pedestrians ahead
* Children ahead
* Cyclists ahead
* Cattle ahead
* Horses ahead
* Sheep ahead
* Wild animals ahead
* Gate ahead
* Motor gate ahead on right
* Motor gate ahead on left
* Motor gate ahead
* Railway crossing ahead
* Tunnel ahead
* Height restriction ahead
* Length restriction ahead
* Steep descent ahead
* Steep ascent ahead
* Slow moving heavy vehicles ahead
* Unpaved road surface ahead
* Narrow bridge ahead
* Single vehicle width passage ahead
* Roadway narrows from both sides ahead
* Roadway narrows from the right side ahead
* Roadway narrows from the left side ahead
* Uneven road surface ahead
* Speed hump ahead
* Slippery road ahead
* Falling rocks ahead
* Falling rocks ahead
* Warning
* "Danger" flashing light sign
* Unprotected jetty edge or river bank ahead
* Crosswinds ahead
* Drift / Ford ahead
* Low flying aircraft ahead
* Agricultural vehicles ahead
* Reduced visibility ahead
* Traffic congestion ahead
* Horse riders ahead
* Elephants ahead
* Warthogs ahead
* Hippos ahead
* Width restriction ahead
* Danger of electrical shock
* Trams ahead
* Paved road surface ahead
* Moveable bridge ahead
* Railway crossing
* Railway crossing with 2 or more tracks
* Sharp curve marker
* Sharp curve marker
* Sharp curve marker
* Sharp curve marker
* T-junction marker
* Dead end or road closure marker
* Gore marker
* Gore marker

### Information signs

* Dead end
* Dead end
* Dead end
* Right-of-way
* Co-ordinated traffic signals at indicated speed
* Multi-phase traffic signals
* Bus stop ahead
* Bus stop
* Bus stop for all buses
* Bus stop for authorised buses with line number
* Bus stop for authorised buses with line numbers
* Mini-bus stop
* Mini-bus stop
* Mini-bus stop for authorised mini-buses with line number
* Mini-bus stop for authorised mini-buses with line numbers
* Right-of-way over oncoming vehicles
* Information centre
* Park and Ride
* Park and Ride
* Modal transfer point
* Modal transfer point
* Modal transfer point

### Combo signs

* Speed limit of 120 km/h during the day
* Speed limit of 100 km/h during the night

## Temporary road signs
### Regulatory signs
#### Command signs

* Minimum speed limit
* End to minimum speed limit
* Keep left
* Keep right
* Keep left
* Keep right
* Go straight/one way
* Turn left
* Turn right
* Pedestrians only
* Bicycle only
* Bicycle and pedestrians right only 1
* Bicycle and pedestrians right only 2
* Bicycle and pedestrians left only 1
* Bicycle and pedestrians left only 2
* Motorcycle only
* Cars only
* Taxi only
* Campervan only
* Minibus only
* Bus only
* Pick up only
* Trucks primited
* Truck maximum primited
* Dumptruck
* Oil truck
* Bus study tour primited
* Tracktor primited
* Horse
* Switch headlamps on
* Bus
* Campervan and bus
* Roundabout
* Tram
* Tram and bus
* Campervan tram and bus

#### Prohibition signs

* Speed limit 5
* Speed limit 10
* Speed limit 20
* Speed limit 30
* Speed limit 40
* Speed limit 50
* Speed limit 60
* Speed limit 70
* Speed limit 75
* Speed limit 80
* Speed limit 90
* Speed limit 100
* Speed limit 120
* Maximum Height
* Truck Maximum
* No left turn
* No right turn
* No left
* No right
* No u turn
* No passing
* Truck no passing
* No parking
* No stopping
* No pedestrians
* No bicycle
* No bicycle or pedestrians
* No motorcycles
* No cars
* No taxi
* No campervan
* No minibus
* No bus
* No truck pick up
* No trucks
* No truck maximum
* No dumptruck
* No oil truck
* No study tour bus
* No tracktor
* No horse
* Maximum width
* No cart
* No selling

#### Parking signs

* Bus parking
* Bicycle parking
* Parking area
* Parking 60 minutes
* Parking motorcycle
* Parking car
* Parking taxi
* Parking campervan
* Parking minibus
* Pick up parking
* Trucks parking
* Trucks minimum parking
* Parking dumptruck
* Oil truck parking
* Study tour bus parking
* Police parking
* Parking handicap
* Parking bus or campervan
* Parking bus or minibus
* Parking bus campervan minibus

#### Comprehensive signs

* Start expresoway

#### Selective restriction signs

* Left arrow
* Right arrow
* Double arrow
* Pay toll road
* Bus plqaue sign
* Bicycle plaque sign
* Motorcycle plaque sign
* Cars plaque sign
* Taxi plaque sign
* Campervan plaque
* Minibus plaque sign
* Pick up plaque sign
* Truck plaque sign
* Truck minimum
* Dumptruck plaque

#### De-restriction signs
### Warning signs

* Crossroad
* Crossroad junction
* Crossroad junction to two way
* T junction
* Skewed T junction
* Skewed T junction
* Side road junction left
* Side road junction right
* Double side roads right
* Double side roads left
* Skewed junction left
* Skewed junction left
* Skewed junction right
* Skewed junction right
* Y junction
* Exit road left
* Exit road right
* Pass road right
* Pass road left
* Circular intersection ahead
* Right Curve
* Left Curve
* Sharp right turn
* Sharp left turn
* Hairpin right curve
* Hairpin left curve
* Two curve right
* Two curve left
* Two sharp right turn
* Two sharp left turn
* Two way traffic
* Two way traffic
* Right lane ends
* Left lanes left
* Winding road left
* Winding road right
* Winding road right left
* Traffic lights ahead
* Stop sign ahead
* Yield sign ahead
* Pedestrian crossing
* Pedestrian area
* Children
* Bicycle zone
* Cow
* Horse
* Sheep
* Deer
* Gates
* Narrow bridge right sign
* Narrow bridge left sign
* Narrow bridge
* Railroad crossing ahead
* Maximum height
* Truck maximum width
* Steep hill
* Steep climb
* Steep hill crash
* Ends road
* Narrow bridge
* Narrow bridge
* Narrow road
* Narrow right road
* Narrow left road
* Uneven road
* Bump
* Sliperry road
* Falling rocks from right
* Falling rocks from left
* Be careful/other danger
* Flashing danger yellow
* Flashing danger blue
* Canyon
* Windcross
* Dip
* Tracktor ahead
* Fog
* Traffic queque
* Horse ahead
* Elepaht ahead
* Warthog ahead
* Hippo ahead
* Maximum width
* Electricity
* Road rock ends

### Information signs

* Dead end
* Side road right dead end
* Side road left dead end
* Crossroad junction right turn dead end
* Crossroad junction left turn dead end
* T junction right turn dead end
* T junction left turn dead end

## Historic road signs

In 1993, South Africa began replacing the blue signs with a permanent white background, or a temporary yellow one was included.
In 1977, the pre-RTSM manual signage was replaced by signs compliant with the RTSM manual released in 1970.

### Regulatory signs
#### Control signs

* Stop sign
* Stop and yield turn left
* Yield sign
* Yield to pedestrians
* Do not enter sign
* One way traffic left
* One way traffic right

#### Command signs

* Minimum speed limit
* Keep left
* Keep right
* Keep left
* Keep right
* Straight/oneway

#### Prohibition signs

* Speed limit 10
* Speed limit 15
* Speed limit 20
* Speed limit 25
* Speed limit 30
* Speed limit 35
* Speed limit 40
* Speed limit 50
* Speed limit 60
* Speed limit 70
* Speed limit 80
* Speed limit 90
* Speed limit 100
* Speed limit 120
* Ton limit bus or truck
* Ton limit or wheels bus or truck
* Maximum Height
* No left turn
* No right turn
* No u turn
* No passing
* Trucks no passing
* No parking
* No stopping
* No cars
* No minibus
* No bus
* No truck
* No dumptruck
* Road closed
* No vehicle
* No bus
* No stopping of bus
* Stopping minibus prohibited
* Combined speed limit

### Warning signs

* Intersection
* T crossroad
* T skewed crossroad right
* T skewed crossroad left
* Crossroad from left
* Crossroad from right
* Double crossroad from right
* Double crossroad from left
* Skewed crossroad from left
* Skewed crossroad from left
* Skewed crossroad from right
* Skewed crossroad from right
* Y crossroad
* Added lane left sign
* Added lane right sign
* Pass right or straight
* Pass left or straight
* Roundabout
* Right bend
* Left bend
* Sharp turn right
* Sharp turn left
* Hairpins right bend
* Hairpins left bend
* Winding road right-left
* Winding road left-right
* Two sharp right turn
* Two sharp left turn
* Two way traffic zone
* Traffic light ahead
* Stop ahead
* Flagger ahead
* Flagger ahead
* Pedestrians crossing
* Pedestrians crossing
* Pedestrian ahead
* School advance
* Cyclists
* Bicycle
* Cattle
* Horse
* Buck
* Gates
* Narrow bridge right sign
* Narrow bridge left sign
* Narrow bridge
* Railway crossing
* Tunnel
* Max height
* Hill
* Climb
* Narrow bridge
* Narrow bridge one lane
* Road narrows
* Right lane end
* Left lane end
* Uneven road
* Bump
* Slippery road
* Falling rocks to the right
* Falling rocks to the left
* Construction ahead
* Construction ahead
* Loose gravel
* Warning
* Stop / Go ahead
* Dumptrucks ahead
* Flashing
* Cliff
* Wind
* Sand
* Low laying areas might be flooded
* Elephant
* Hippopotamus
* Blind rise
* Concealed Driveway
* Ry stadig / Drive slowly
* Rhino
* Skool / School
* Slow / Stadig
* Snow / Ice
* Road block ahead
* Padblokkade voor

#### Guidance signs

* Toilet rest area

#### Information signs

* Dead end
* Hospital