SMS Rules for South Africa
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Sender ID Restrictions
| Alphanumeric Sender ID | Can be crushed |
|---|---|
| Foreign Numeric Sender ID | Can be crushed |
| Local Numeric Sender ID | Supported |
| Generic Sender ID Prohibited | Yes |
| Sender ID May Be Modified | Yes |
| Virtual Number Required | No |
| Marketing Requires Opt-in | Yes |
| P2P Prohibited | Yes |
| Handset DLR Unavailable | No |
Content Restrictions
| Category | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Money games | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: gambling, betting, casino |
| Political content | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: political |
| Religious content | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: religious |
| Marketing / Promotional | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: marketing, promotion |
Notes
Country: South Africa (ZA).
South Africa has specific guidelines for the use of Sender ID when sending SMS messages. Alphanumeric Sender IDs are only supported on the MTN network and it is necessary to pre-register these. Sender IDs are case sensitive and must contain the brand name. If the Sender ID is not registered, it may be replaced by a generic Sender ID. Numeric Sender IDs are not supported unless they are offered as part of a two-way service. Generic Sender IDs such as INFO, SMS, NOTICE etc. are prohibited. To start the Sender ID registration process, please contact your account manager or support.
When it comes to marketing traffic, it is important to obtain consent from users before sending messages. P2P traffic is not allowed and no content related to politics, religion, unsolicited promotion or gambling may be sent. There are no additional content restrictions beyond those stated in our Acceptable Use Policy.
We do our best to ensure that all information on specific terms is up-to-date and accurate, but we cannot be held responsible for any changes in legislation. For more information or assistance, please contact our support team.
South Africa has specific guidelines for the use of Sender ID when sending SMS messages. Alphanumeric Sender IDs are only supported on the MTN network and it is necessary to pre-register these. Sender IDs are case sensitive and must contain the brand name. If the Sender ID is not registered, it may be replaced by a generic Sender ID. Numeric Sender IDs are not supported unless they are offered as part of a two-way service. Generic Sender IDs such as INFO, SMS, NOTICE etc. are prohibited. To start the Sender ID registration process, please contact your account manager or support.
When it comes to marketing traffic, it is important to obtain consent from users before sending messages. P2P traffic is not allowed and no content related to politics, religion, unsolicited promotion or gambling may be sent. There are no additional content restrictions beyond those stated in our Acceptable Use Policy.
We do our best to ensure that all information on specific terms is up-to-date and accurate, but we cannot be held responsible for any changes in legislation. For more information or assistance, please contact our support team.
Last updated: April 20, 2026