South Africans who try to shoot down, jam or disable a drone could face a fine of up to R50,000, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.

The warning comes as public concern grows over drone use in suburbs, at private properties and around major events. According to MyBroadband, legal expert Cor van Deventer said private citizens may not disable drones under any circumstances.

Drone Laws in South Africa Carry Serious Penalties

Van Deventer, director at law firm Van Deventer Dowlath and Marx Incorporated, told MyBroadband that a drone is treated as an aircraft in law.

“A drone is an aircraft in the eyes of the law, and interfering with an aircraft carries heavy penalties,” he said.

He said breaches of the Civil Aviation Regulations can lead to a fine of up to R50,000, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. He added that broader provisions of the Civil Aviation Act can carry higher penalties where an act endangers or destroys an aircraft in service.

Van Deventer said private people may not throw objects at drones, jam their signals or try to bring them down. Only the state and authorised bodies may act, and only under strict legal limits.

Operators Must Follow Strict Safety Rules

Drone laws in South Africa also place clear duties on operators. The South African Civil Aviation Authority says a remote pilot must fly safely and must not endanger any aircraft, person or property.

For private operations, SACAA guidance says drones may not be flown 10km or closer to an aerodrome, including an airport, helipad or airfield. Operators must also keep drones away from controlled, restricted and prohibited airspace.

SACAA also says drones may not fly 50m or closer to any person, group of people, public road or private property without the property owner’s permission. MyBroadband reported that operators must keep drones within unaided visual line of sight and must not exceed 120m in altitude.

Van Deventer said many hobbyists wrongly believe drones under 250g fall outside all rules. However, he said even small drones must comply with distance and privacy requirements.

Privacy Risks Add Another Layer

Drone laws in South Africa do not only deal with airspace safety. They can also overlap with privacy rights when a drone records people or private property.

The Protection of Personal Information Act, known as POPIA, sets minimum conditions for processing personal information by public and private bodies. Van Deventer told MyBroadband that filming identifiable people or private property without consent could expose operators to civil or criminal liability.

This means drone users should consider both aviation rules and privacy law before they fly, especially in built-up areas.

Comrades Marathon Warning Underlines Enforcement

The issue came into focus before the 2026 Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal. SAPS said the entire route had been declared a no-fly zone and that only authorised operational aircraft and drones would be allowed.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said any unauthorised drone would be taken down operationally in accordance with the law, according to IOL.

Van Deventer told MyBroadband that the warning showed drones are not toys. “They carry legal consequences,” he said.