International driving licence

[charbel]

Dear forum colleagues,
International driving licences are not required in South Africa, as I checked. But I have two doubts, in relation to which I am sure you can help.

In some forums I read international driving licences are required if the original driving licence is not in English (as it is our case, they are in Portuguese), in others I read that it doesn't matter in which language is the driving licence written.
What is the true situation?

Also, in some forums people say that if you don't have an international driving licence, even though this is not required, you may have trouble with the police, like bribery etc. My feeling is that this is most of all prejudice, but it creates some concern anyway. Is there any truth to this? Or is just prejudice?

All the best
Charbel

[Elsa]

Charbel, all I can find so far is

Anyone who is aged 18 and older and has a valid driver's license can drive in South Africa. However, certain medical conditions may disqualify someone from driving.
International residents and tourists with valid foreign licenses may also drive in the country.

[FinMari]

»
international driving licences are required if the original driving licence is not in English (as it is our case, they are in Portuguese)

When you rent a vehicle, they need your own driving licence, BUT if police etc. stops you then International driving license is needed in your case.
Our driving licence is only in Finnish and Swedish (two our official languages).

Police may stop you just to check valid documents. This has also happened to us inside Kruger NP (H1-1 and H3 crossing)

They are two kind of international driving licences - year 1949 and year 1968. Please require the 1968 version. It is valid for three years and it is valid in Southern Africa. The price in Finland is just now about R 750

[charbel]

Dear FinMari and Elsa
Thanks. These were valuable information!

All the best
Charbel