How To Call To South Africa From USA
How to Call a Landline in South Africa
Calling a South African landline from the United States (USA) uses this format:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial South Africa's country code: 27
- Dial the South African area code (2 digits, dropping the leading '0'): [Area Code] (e.g., 21 for Cape Town)
- Dial the 7-digit local phone number: [Local Number]
For example, if you're calling a landline number in Cape Town (Area Code 021), with the local number 123-4567, you would dial: 011 27 21 123 4567.
South African landline numbers typically consist of the country code (27), a 2-digit area code (after dropping the '0'), and a 7-digit local number, totalling 9 digits after the country code (27).
Dialing a SA landline:
How to Call a Mobile Phone in South Africa
Calling a South African mobile phone from the United States (USA) is straightforward:
- Dial the US exit code: 011
- Dial South Africa's country code: 27
- Dial the 9-digit mobile number (dropping the leading '0', usually starts with 6, 7, or 8): [Mobile Number] (e.g., 72 123 4567)
For example, if the South African mobile number is 072 123 4567, you would dial: 011 27 72 123 4567 from the USA.
South African mobile numbers have 9 digits after the country code (27). Unlike some countries, you **do not** add an extra digit for mobile calls. Just drop the leading '0' from the local mobile number.
Dialing a SA mobile:
South Africa Area Codes (Major Cities & Regions)
Below are common 2-digit area codes for major South African cities and surrounding regions. When calling a landline from the USA, use the format: 011 + 27 + Area Code + 7-digit Local Number. Remember to drop the leading '0' from the local area code.
| City / Region | Area Code (Dial after 27) |
|---|---|
| Cape Town (Western Cape) | 21 |
| Johannesburg (Gauteng) | 11 (also 10) |
| Pretoria / Tshwane (Gauteng) | 12 |
| Durban (KwaZulu-Natal) | 31 |
| Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha (Eastern Cape) | 41 |
| Bloemfontein (Free State) | 51 |
| East London (Eastern Cape) | 43 |
| Pietermaritzburg (KwaZulu-Natal) | 33 |
| Nelspruit / Mbombela (Mpumalanga) | 13 |
| Kimberley (Northern Cape) | 53 |
| Polokwane (Limpopo) | 15 |
| Rustenburg (North West) | 14 |
| George (Western Cape) | 44 |
| Stellenbosch / Paarl (Western Cape) | 21 (shared with CPT) / 21 |
| Welkom (Free State) | 57 |
| Potchefstroom (North West) | 18 |
| Vereeniging / Vanderbijlpark (Gauteng) | 16 |
Mobile Phone Networks in South Africa
South African mobile numbers start with 06, 07, or 08 locally. When calling from the USA, drop the leading '0'. The format is 011 + 27 + [6, 7, or 8] + 8 digits. The total number dialed after '27' is 9 digits.
While specific prefixes (like 72, 82, 83, 84) were once tied to networks, number portability means this is no longer a strict rule. The main providers are:
| Network Provider | Prefixes (Dialed after 27) |
|---|---|
| Vodacom | 6x, 7x, 8x (followed by 8 digits) e.g. 60, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 84 ... |
| MTN | |
| Cell C | |
| Telkom Mobile (8.ta) |
Time Difference in South Africa
South Africa operates on South African Standard Time (SAST), which is UTC+2 year-round. South Africa does not observe Daylight Saving Time.
This means the time difference with the United States (USA) varies depending on US Daylight Saving Time (DST - approx. mid-March to early November):
US Eastern Time (ET): South Africa is 7 hours ahead of EST (US Standard Time) and 6 hours ahead of EDT (US DST).
(Example: 9 AM EST is 4 PM SAST; 9 AM EDT is 3 PM SAST)
US Central Time (CT): South Africa is 8 hours ahead of CST and 7 hours ahead of CDT.
US Mountain Time (MT): South Africa is 9 hours ahead of MST and 8 hours ahead of MDT.
US Pacific Time (PT): South Africa is 10 hours ahead of PST and 9 hours ahead of PDT.
(Example: 9 AM PST is 7 PM SAST; 9 AM PDT is 6 PM SAST)
Always check the current time difference before calling, especially during the transition months for US DST (March, November).
South Africa's Phone System
South Africa has a well-developed telecommunications infrastructure, particularly in urban areas. Mobile phone usage is extremely high, with excellent coverage from major providers like Vodacom and MTN, along with Cell C and Telkom Mobile. 4G is widespread, and 5G rollout is progressing. The fixed-line network, mainly operated by Telkom, is still functional but less common for residential use compared to mobile. Fiber optic internet is increasingly available, especially in cities, making VoIP calls common.
Best Times to Call South Africa
Given the significant time difference, finding a convenient time to call South Africa from the USA requires consideration.
Typical South African business hours are Monday to Friday, from about 8:00 AM or 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM SAST (UTC+2).
The best window for calling usually falls in the US morning. Consider calling between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM US Eastern Time. This corresponds to approximately 1:00 PM/2:00 PM to 5:00 PM/6:00 PM in South Africa (depending on US DST), catching people towards the end of their workday.
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Dial local access number
Call the local access number provided with your card (specific to the United States (USA))
Enter your PIN
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Dial South Africa number
Follow the format based on your destination (after entering PIN):
For Landlines: 27 + Area Code (2 digits) + Local Number (7 digits)
For Mobiles: 27 + Mobile Number (9 digits, starting 6, 7, or 8)
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