What to bring and what is allowed
Clothes:
South Africans do not dress up much. Casual wear is acceptable at most places with smart casual for smarter occasions. The climate is temperate in Johannesburg and layers are the most sensible items to bring. It can get very cold in winter however and South African houses and buildings are poorly heated and insulated, but layers work best as the temperature drops at night but can increase rapidly by midday. Rain is common in summer but it is not a soft continuous rain instead the downpours are rapid, hard and seldom of very long duration. Sunblock is essential and widely available.
Leave expensive jewellery, fancy clothes and very heavy items behind in your home country.
Electronics:
Computers (laptops), cell phones and cameras are best brought with you. Computers and cell phones are not particularly cheap in South Africa so bring your own if you have them. You can buy a pay as you go contract for your cell phone and simply insert the sim card into your existing handset.
Household items:
Hair dryers, shavers, electric toothbrushes and other items are affordable but you might like to bring your own but check whether your country of origin voltage is compatible with SA voltage which is 220/240 volts AC, 50 HZ. Plugs are generally three or two pin round plugs.
Kettles, bedding and cooking utensils are necessary in most accommodation and are seldom provided, however they are bulky items to travel with and so best purchased after your arrival. You can buy them in any shopping mall at large outlets such as Mr Price Home, Clicks, Pick ‘n Pay, Checkers and Woolworths.
Foodstuffs and exotic food:
You are not permitted to bring any food into South Africa but you need not be concerned about finding most food here. South Africa has a very ethnically diverse and international population and most foods are to be found in and around town. Whether its ingredients for Nasi Goreng, Dubbel Zout liquorice or sushi you will find them all. Best places near to Wits are Fordsburg for oriental and eastern spices, Norwood Spar for a mixed bag of imported items, Super Sconto on Louis Botha for Italian specialities, Derrick Road Cyrildene for Chinese, Japanese and Thai ingredients. Most large supermarkets have a wide variety of foodstuff. Try Woolworths, Checkers and Pick ‘n Pay if you are short of time.
Medications:
You are permitted to bring a month’s supply of any prescribed medication for your personal use. You will need a locally generated script however to purchase more prescribed medication. Check with your medical aid for a doctor if you have need of ongoing prescriptions. Dischem is one of the largest chains of chemists in the country and will deliver within a certain radius.
Alcohol:
You are allowed to bring a limited amount of alcohol into the country. Up to 2 litres of wine per person and up to 1 litre of spirits and other alcoholic beverages.
Tobacco:
You may bring in 200 cigarettes per person, 20 cigars and up to 250g of cigarette or pipe tobacco. South Africa is very unfriendly for smokers and smoking in most public places is forbidden outside of designated smoking areas.
Sporting Equipment:
You are permitted to bring in sporting and recreational equipment for personal use either as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage.
Currency:
You can bring in up to R5000 in cash in South African currency. Any amount in excess of that has to be declared. You are permitted to bring in an unlimited amount of foreign currencies and travellers cheques provided you declare this on arrival.
Passport:
South African law requires travellers to have 1 blank unstamped visa page in their passport to enter the country. In practice having 2 blank pages is advisable.
Yellow Fever:
If you are entering SA from World Health Organisation designated yellow fever countries you are required to present the current and valid International Certificate of Vaccination approved by WHO. In addition to the WHO list, SA treats, Zambia and Tanzania as yellow fever countries. You need the original yellow card as copies are not accepted.