Looking for USSD codes South Africa? Use this directory to find the right South African USSD guide by network, bank, task, or problem before you dial. USSD codes can help you check balances, buy airtime or data, use cellphone banking, manage subscriptions, access selected public services, and troubleshoot mobile self-service menus without opening an app.
Last checked: 25 June 2026. Codes, menu paths, fees, limits, and availability can change. Always verify the exact USSD code on the official network, bank, government, or service-provider page before entering a PIN, ID number, account number, payment confirmation, or subscription instruction.
Quick USSD Codes South Africa List
| Need | Start here | Examples last checked from official sources |
|---|---|---|
| Main USSD directory | USSD Code South Africa | Use the main hub if you are not sure which provider, bank, or task page applies. |
| Mobile network codes | mobile network USSD codes South Africa | Vodacom lists *135# for self-service such as balances, bundles, airtime transfer, and related services. MTN lists USSD help for services such as recharging and bundle purchases. (Vodacom) |
| Airtime and data | airtime and data USSD codes South Africa | MTN says users can dial *136*2# to buy bundles, while Telkom says users can dial *188#from a Telkom SIM to check data and voice balances. (MTN South Africa) |
| Airtime balance | check airtime balance | Use this when you only need an airtime-balance check and do not need the full network menu. |
| Data balance | check data balance | Use this when you need remaining data, bundle expiry, or bundle-status guidance. |
| Banking USSD | banking USSD codes South Africa | Standard Bank lists *120*2345#, Absa lists *120*2272#, and Capitec lists *120*3279# for cellphone banking access. (Standard Bank) |
| Bank-by-bank lookup | USSD codes by bank | Use this when you know your bank and need the correct banking route, safety notes, or registration guidance. |
| Network-by-network lookup | USSD codes by network | Use this when you know your SIM provider and need network-specific self-service codes. |
| Task-by-task lookup | USSD codes by task | Use this when you know what you want to do but not which provider guide to open. |
| Cancel subscriptions | cancel subscription USSD code South Africa | Vodacom says users can dial *135*997# to view or stop content services, and MTN says users can view and cancel subscriptions by dialling *155#. (Vodacom) |
| Public service USSD | government USSD codes | SARS lists *134*7277# for selected mobile tax services, with verification using ID, passport, or asylum number where required. (South African Revenue Service) |
| Emergency help | emergency USSD codes | Emergency help in South Africa is usually handled by emergency phone numbers rather than ordinary USSD menus. SAPS lists 10111 for police emergencies, while Western Cape Government lists 112 as a cellphone emergency number across MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, and Telkom. (SAPS) |
| USSD not opening | USSD code not working | Use this if the menu says request failed, service unavailable, session timed out, wrong code, or the menu does not open. |
| USSD charges | USSD code charges | Use this before dialling premium-rated, subscription, competition, banking, or purchase-related codes. |
| USSD without internet | USSD codes without internet | Standard Bank says its cellphone banking works on any cellphone with no smartphone or data needed, and SARS says its USSD feature does not need smartphone or internet connectivity. (Standard Bank) |
| USSD safety | USSD code safety | Use this before entering personal, banking, subscription, or payment details into any USSD menu. |
Browse by Provider, Bank, or Task
The quickest way to use this USSD code directory is to choose the type of service first. Some codes depend on your mobile network, some depend on your bank, and some depend on the task you are trying to complete.
Provider-specific links
Use provider-specific guides when the code depends on your SIM card or mobile network. This applies to balance checks, data bundles, airtime purchases, please-call-me services, prepaid services, contract account menus, SIM services, and mobile self-service.
Start with these network and mobile guides:
mobile network USSD codes South Africa
USSD codes by network
mobile self-service codes South Africa
prepaid USSD codes
contract USSD codes
USSD master menus
please call me USSD code
Choose the network route when you are using a Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, or other South African mobile line and need the code that works from that SIM.
Bank-specific links
Use bank-specific guides when the USSD code involves account balances, transfers, payments, cash-send services, debit orders, prepaid purchases, or a banking PIN. Banking USSD codes should be treated as sensitive because the menu may ask you to log in, confirm a payment, or enter a secure PIN.
Start with these banking guides:
banking USSD codes South Africa
USSD codes by bank
USSD code safety
USSD code charges
Do not use a banking USSD code from a forwarded message, screenshot, social post, or advert unless you can confirm the same code on your bank’s official website or app.
Task-specific links
Use task pages when you know what you want to do but not which provider or bank page to open. This is the best path for airtime, data, subscription cancellation, safety checks, public services, and troubleshooting.
Start with these task guides:
check airtime balance
check data balance
airtime and data USSD codes South Africa
cancel subscription USSD code South Africa
USSD code not working
government USSD codes
emergency USSD codes
latest USSD codes
popular USSD codes
If the task involves money, paid content, personal information, or a confirmation screen, check the official source before completing the menu.
How to Use These USSD Codes
First, identify the correct category. If your question is about your SIM card, airtime, data, or network menu, use a network guide. If it is about your bank account, use a banking guide. If it is about tax, public services, emergency help, or subscriptions, use the relevant task guide.
Next, confirm that the code matches your provider. A Vodacom self-service code is not the same as an MTN, Telkom, or Cell C code. A banking code should only be used for the bank where you are registered. A public-service code should be checked against the relevant government or agency page before you enter personal details.
Open your phone dialler, type the USSD string exactly as shown, and press the call button. Most USSD strings begin with an asterisk and end with a hash, such as *123#. Once the menu opens, reply with the number that matches the option you want.
Read each screen before replying. Stop if the menu shows the wrong provider, asks for unexpected information, displays a charge you did not expect, or asks you to confirm a service you do not recognise. Do not enter a banking PIN, OTP, ID number, passport number, account number, or payment confirmation unless you are sure the code is official and the request matches the task.
If the menu times out, shows “USSD request failed”, says “service unavailable”, deducts airtime unexpectedly, or does not open, do not keep retrying blindly. Go to USSD code not working and check the safe troubleshooting steps before trying again.
Costs, Safety, and Last-Verified Notes
USSD is often used because it can work on basic phones and does not usually require a smartphone app. Some services also state that they do not need mobile data. For example, Standard Bank describes cellphone banking as working on any cellphone with no smartphones or data needed, Absa says users do not need airtime to bank using Absa Cellphone Banking, and SARS says its USSD feature is free of charge and does not need smartphone or internet connectivity. (Standard Bank)
That does not mean every USSD code is free. Some USSD sessions can involve bank fees, network charges, airtime purchases, bundle purchases, premium-rated services, or subscription billing. Before confirming a transaction, check the service fee, product price, expiry date, and cancellation route.
Premium-rated and subscription services need extra caution. ICASA’s premium-rated service regulations require notifications about cost and terms when a premium-rated service is initiated through channels such as USSD, and subscription premium-rated services are subject to a double opt-in process. (ICASA)
Use this safety checklist before dialling or confirming:
| Check | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Provider | Does the code match your SIM, bank, or public-service provider? |
| Source | Is the code shown on an official or highly reliable source? |
| Cost | Is the session free, standard-rated, premium-rated, or linked to a product fee? |
| Menu path | Does the menu option still match the guide? |
| Eligibility | Does it work for prepaid, contract, top-up, business, or registered users only? |
| Personal information | Is the request for an ID number, PIN, OTP, account number, or passport number expected? |
| Confirmation | Are you about to buy, subscribe, cancel, transfer, or pay? |
| Proof | Will you receive an SMS, reference number, or confirmation screen? |
| Last checked | Has the code been checked recently enough for publication? |
For publishing, every guide in this directory should show a visible last-checked date beside any current code, fee, limit, menu path, or process. If a code cannot be verified from an official or highly reliable source, do not present it as official.
Related USSD Guides
Use these related guides to move from the main USSD codes South Africa directory to the exact page you need:
USSD Code South Africa
What is a USSD code?
popular USSD codes
latest USSD codes
mobile network USSD codes South Africa
banking USSD codes South Africa
airtime and data USSD codes South Africa
check airtime balance
check data balance
cancel subscription USSD code South Africa
mobile self-service codes South Africa
USSD code charges
USSD codes without internet
USSD code safety
USSD code not working
government USSD codes
emergency USSD codes
USSD codes by bank
USSD codes by network
USSD codes by task
USSD master menus
prepaid USSD codes
contract USSD codes
please call me USSD code
FAQs
How should users find the right page for USSD codes South Africa?
Start with the service type. Use mobile network USSD codes South Africa for SIM, airtime, data, and network self-service codes. Use banking USSD codes South Africa for bank account tasks. Use USSD codes by task if you know what you want to do but do not know which provider page applies.
Are the listed codes official or verified?
Codes shown with current examples on this page were checked against official or highly reliable sources on 25 June 2026. Before publishing, updating, or using a code for banking, paid services, subscription cancellation, public services, or personal information, verify the code again with the relevant provider, bank, regulator, or government source.
Do USSD codes work without mobile data?
USSD codes are commonly used without opening an app or using mobile data, but the exact cost depends on the service. Some official pages state that their USSD or cellphone-banking services do not need data, while other services may still involve network charges, bank fees, product prices, or subscription billing. Always check the specific provider page before assuming a code is free.
What should users do if a listed code does not work?
Check the code format, confirm that you are using the correct SIM or bank, make sure you have network signal, and try again only if there is no unexpected charge or suspicious screen. If the problem continues, use USSD code not workingfor safe troubleshooting and provider-specific next steps.
Where should users go for provider-specific help?
Use USSD codes by network for mobile-network help, USSD codes by bank for bank-specific help, and USSD codes by task when the task matters more than the provider. For safety concerns, use USSD code safety before entering sensitive details.
