What You Can and Can't Send by Courier in South Africa
Every parcel UrgentGo carries is governed by South African law and carrier safety rules. Here is the plain-English guide to what is completely prohibited, what can be sent with conditions, and how to pack restricted items so your delivery clears without delays or refusals.
The short answer: you can courier alcohol, lithium batteries, medication, electronics and legal documents under conditions. You cannot courier dangerous goods, illegal substances, unlicensed firearms, live animals, human remains or cash on any courier network in South Africa.
Can I send it? The quick verdict
Three simple buckets — what we never carry, what needs special handling, and what goes straight on the van.
Never — Prohibited
Banned by law or carrier policy
- Dangerous goods
- Illegal & controlled drugs
- Firearms & ammunition
- Live animals
- Cash & bearer instruments
- Human remains
- Perishables with no cold chain
Sometimes — Restricted
Accepted only under conditions
- Alcohol & wine
- Lithium batteries
- Perfume & aerosols
- Prescription medicine
- Tobacco products
- High-value items (insured)
- Fresh food (same-day only)
Always — Accepted
No special permission needed
- Legal documents
- Court filings
- Clothing & textiles
- Electronics (off, padded)
- Books & stationery
- eCommerce parcels
- Non-perishable food
Prohibited items UrgentGo will never carry
These items are banned on every courier network in South Africa. Booking them — or hiding them inside a parcel — is a criminal offence and voids all liability cover.
Dangerous goods & hazardous materials
Explosives, fireworks, flammable liquids (petrol, thinners), compressed gases, oxidisers, corrosives, radioactive and toxic substances — the nine UN hazard classes.
Illegal & controlled substances
Narcotics, cannabis (dagga), unlicensed scheduled drugs, counterfeit goods, stolen property and any item prohibited under South African law.
Weapons & ammunition
Handguns, rifles, shotguns, live ammunition and prohibited weapons under the Firearms Control Act and Dangerous Weapons Act.
Live animals
Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and any live creature. These require specialist, licensed live-animal transport — not a parcel network.
Cash & bearer instruments
Banknotes, coins, blank cheques, money orders and bearer bonds. Cash-in-transit is legally reserved for licensed CIT operators in South Africa.
Perishables without cold-chain handling
Fresh meat, dairy and seafood cannot travel on a standard ambient route. They are only accepted on a same-day cold-chain service.
Human remains & body parts
Human remains, ashes, organs and anatomical samples. These are handled only by specialist funeral and medical logistics providers.
Explosive, flammable & reactive materials
Ammunition primers, flares, lithium cells above safety limits, and any material that can ignite, explode or react dangerously in transit.
Restricted items you can send under conditions
These items are allowed, but only if they meet our packing, declaration and insurance conditions. Follow the rules and they travel normally.
Alcohol & wine
- Double-boxed with absorbent padding
- Declared accurately at booking
- Declared-value insurance added
- Recipient must be 18+
Road courier only. Airfreight limited to 5L per parcel. Bulk shipments need a liquor licence.
Lithium batteries & power banks
- In-device batteries accepted with device off
- Standalone cells up to 100Wh
- Terminals taped or original packaging
- Always declared
Undeclared batteries void insurance cover. Loose bulk cells are not accepted.
Liquids, perfume & aerosols
- Sealed in original packaging
- Under 1L per parcel
- Secondary sealed bag inside box
- Non-flammable household chemicals only
Bleach, ammonia, mercury and wet-cell car batteries are not accepted.
Tobacco & vaping products
- Sealed, declared shipment
- Adult recipient only
- Reasonable personal quantities
- Device batteries protected
Bulk tobacco requires excise documentation and is not accepted on standard courier.
Medical & pharmaceutical specimens
- Sealed, labelled primary packaging
- Prescription or documentation attached
- SANS 10234 compliant packing
- Cold-chain service for vaccines
Cold-chain and pathology work runs through our pharmaceutical and medical courier services.
High-value items
- Declared-value insurance taken
- Accurate contents declaration
- Secure, tamper-evident packing
- Signature on delivery
Loose gems, bullion and cash require a licensed specialist secure courier instead.
Not sure whether your item qualifies? Check our pharmaceutical courier and medical courier services, or call us on 010 023 4832 before booking.
How to safely pack and label restricted items
Restricted items are only insured if they are packed correctly. Follow these four rules and your parcel is covered — skip them and a claim can be refused.
1. Use a strong double-walled box
A sturdy outer box protects against crushing. Never ship liquids or glass in a padded bag alone.
2. Seal liquids in a secondary bag
Wrap bottles in bubble wrap, then seal inside a leak-proof bag with absorbent material to contain spills.
3. Fill all empty space
Pack cushioning on every side so nothing shifts. Fragile items need at least 5cm of protection on all sides.
4. Declare and label accurately
Mark parcels "FRAGILE" and "THIS WAY UP" where needed. Declare the true contents — never misdescribe.
What UrgentGo specialises in carrying
Beyond everyday parcels, these are the cargo types we carry every day — with the packing, documentation and tracking they require.
Legal documents & court filings
Chain-of-custody handling for contracts, affidavits and court documents with proof of delivery.
Medical specimens
Blood samples, pathology and lab specimens moved under SANS 10234 compliant packing.
eCommerce parcels
Volume door-to-door delivery for online stores, with Shopify and WooCommerce integration.
Business freight
Regular business dispatch, pallets and bulk freight on a prepaid wallet account with no lock-in.
Prohibited & restricted items — FAQs
The questions we hear most about what can and can't be sent by courier in South Africa.
Yes, with conditions. Wine, spirits and beer can be couriered by road, but the parcel must be double-boxed with absorbent padding, declared accurately, and covered by declared-value insurance. The sender accepts liability for breakage and the recipient must be 18 or older. Airfreight is limited to 5 litres per parcel.
Not sure if your item can be sent? Ask us — then book in 60 seconds.
Get an instant quote and book a collection online, or call our team and we'll confirm in seconds whether your parcel is allowed and how to pack it. Nationwide delivery from R79, same-day from R89.