South Africa.

230 V · 50 Hz on Type M, Type N, Type C.

The hefty three-round-pin Type M still dominates South African walls, with the compact Type N standard appearing in newer installations — and a europlug Type C slides straight into an N socket. At 230 V 50 Hz the voltage suits European gear, but the socket mix means travellers often want both an M and an N adapter.

The voltage window

A nominal 230 V supply may legitimately sit anywhere between 207 and 253 V (±10%). Dual-voltage gear (marked 100–240 V) shrugs at all of it.

Grid facts verified against IEC World Plugs — South Africa. Prose is our own.

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Coming here from somewhere else?

Pack an adapter — South Africa runs 230 V 50 Hz on Type M, Type N, Type C — and your 120 V appliances need to be dual-voltage or transformed, adapter or not.

  • Type A needs an adapter

    South Africa's Type M / Type N / Type C sockets don't take a Type A plug.

    the full story

  • Type B needs an adapter

    South Africa's Type M / Type N / Type C sockets don't take a Type B plug.

    the full story

Faces drawn to scale from pin dimensions · verdicts are physical fit + voltage math, not safety advice — when in doubt, ask the hardware store, not the internet.