The South African Bird Ringing Unit

Ringing birds around Africa!

Ringing Permits

Permits - South Africa

Ringers Please Note:

Kindly inform SAFRING of any change in these contact details. We can be reached at: safring[at]birdmap.africa

Code	Province	Address & Contact
EC	Eastern Cape	Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, Cacadu Region P Bag X5001, Greenacres, P.E. 6057 Att: Contact Luzuko Dali or Thembinkosi Tyali: Luzuko.Dali[at]dedea.gov.za and Thembinkosi.Tyali[at]dedea.gov.za. Regional Office Number 041-508-5800 Fax: 086-519-7698 Details: Protected Species in terms of the Nature and Environmental Conservation Ordinance: Ringers are required to e-mail a copy of their SAFRING Membership Cards and a record of the birds they ringed during the year the previous year. There is no cost. Threatened or Protected Species (ToPS): Ringer to complete an Application Form and pay the R50.00 by EFT into our bank account; e-mail a copy of their SAFRING Membership Cards and a record of the bird they ringed during the year the previous year. Permits can be renewed if Ringers did not ring for a specific period of time providing they provide the above-mentioned information.
FS	Free State	Free State Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs P/Bag X20801 Bloemfontein South Africa 9300 Attention: Cynthia Seqhobane (seqhobane[at]destea.gov.za) or Johannes Mosia (mosiaj[at]destea.gov.za ) for any assistance To obtain an e-permit: Go to the e-Services website. Free State application form
GP	Gauteng (Jhb)	Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development P O Box 8769 Johannesburg 2000 Download permit application Updated 2024 (Click to download) The contact person is: Heidy Potgieter, Permits Office, Directorate of Biodiversity Management, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, tel. 086 420 3043, fax: 0864202203 / 011 240 3044 e-mail: heidy.potgieter@gauteng.gov.za, website: www.gauteng.gov.za 56 Eloff Street, Ground Floor, Umnotho House Building, JOHANNESBURG Please Note: The reference requirements when applying for birding permits. A 20 characters field is provided for the reference. No spaces between elements are allowed. Start with Regional Office Pretoria code: CONSP Followed by the clients name: Tom van der Merwe. At the end filled-up all spaces with a X Note: The annual fee for a Gauteng permit is R92 (updated Feb. 2024) - Permits CPA1, CPA2 and CPA3
GP	Gauteng (Pta)	The Gauteng permits office has a branch in Pretoria at the corner of Lilian Ngoyi and Pretorius Street. Fedsure Forum Building, 7th floor. The banking details have also changed for payments The contact person is: Violet Ndongeni Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Biodiversity Management: Resource Protection Permits Office Tel: 063 695 2107 Email: Violet.ndongeni@gauteng.gov.za Website: www.gauteng.gov.za/ Download the Permit Application Updated 2024 (Click to download) Note: The annual fee for a Gauteng permit is R92 (updated Feb. 2024) - Permits CPA1, CPA2 and CPA3
KZ	KwaZulu-Natal	KZN Wildlife Box 13053 CASCADES 3202 Attention: Sharron Hughes Tel: 033-845-1999 or 033-845-1324 Fax: 033-845-1747 Email: permits [at] kznwildlife.com Emails may also be sent to Brent Coverdale: Brent.Coverdale[at]kznwildlife.com Cost of the permit if no threatened or protected species (ToPS) involved = R50.00 Cost if ToPS are involved = R100.00. We need a copy of the SAFRing licence. We need a return from the previous year if a permit had been issued. All queries or applications, POP and additional documents as listed above must be submitted to permits@kznwildlife.com for processing.(Updated April 2018)
LP	Limpopo (prev Northern Province)	Limpopo Province (updated Nov. 2021) Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism PO Box 419 Modimolle 0510 Att: Vivianne Mazibuko Tel: 014-717 1093/3873/5305 and ask for permit office Fax: 014-717-3567 Note: Annual cost is R70 (March 2022). PROCESS: email your application to Vivianne Mazibuko, tel 014-717-5383, MazibukoLVS@ledet.gov.za with your SAFRING authority card (and ringing data - see below), then he will verify and pass onto the permit office. He also needs a certified copy of your ID document (certification stamp must not be older than 3 months). Once received at permit office the lady above will contact you back with a payment ref-number then only do you do the payment of R70 into the bank account. The following extra detail must accompany every application: Date, Species name, Safring bird number, Location and Co-ordinates (degrees, minutes and seconds) for every bird caught in the Limpopo province for the previous year’s licence ended. If any of these are left out on the application, a permit will not be issued. All the contact details of the applicant with his Safring number must also be included. [add the co-ordinates as a 12 digit number – six for latitude and 6 for longitude]. Download Limpopo application form These permits are valid for 3 years.
MP	Mpumalanga	Permits Office Mpumalanga Parks Board, Hall's Gateway on the N4 National Highway, Mbombela permits [at] mtpa.co.za, 013-0650859 or 013-0650888 Note: R150 fee from 2025 Download form here Procedure for bird ringing applications: [2025] Fees can be paid by card at MTPA offices OR via EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer) to: Std Bank Nelspruit– Acc.: MTPA Operating Acc; Acc. No: 032895968; Branch code: 052852 with Ref: WIL 001 & Surname Deliver to Permit Office or Email to: permits@mtpa.co.za with proof of payment and relevant documents.
NC	Northern Cape	Northern Cape Nature Conservation Service Department of Environment and Nature Conservation Private Bag X6102 Kimberley 8300 Email applications to dencpermits[at]ncpg.gov.za / dencpermits[at]gmail.com / Marietjie Smit: MSmit [at] ncpg.gov.za / David Paulse: paulsedavid[at]gmail.com Tel: 053 807 7430 Fax: 0866 597 032 / 086 5151 769 Departmental Fax: 053 831 3530 Permit costs R50. The application, tariff form, proof of payment of R50 and Newest safring card should be forwarded and for renewal applications the list of species and numbers must also be sent as well as the previous permit issued. Application form Tariff list
NW	North West	2020: The North West Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development (READ) rolled out a new online application system (called “NIPAS”). Visit NIPAS to apply for your permit.
WC	Western Cape	CapeNature Manager: Fauna, Flora, CITES & Hunting [contact: permits.fax@capenature.co.za] CapeNature, Private Bag X29, Gatesville, South Africa 7701 Contact: 087 087 4088 An online self-service permits portal allows one to register, upload an application form, and track the status of your enquiry.