IAN FLEMING STREET LIFE

So what does the law say about photography, and street photography in South Africa. In a nutshell this is it when it comes to taking photographs in public places in South Africa.

In our country, any person can take a photograph that includes any other person, without permission.  The point is a photographer does not need your permission to take your photograph, if he or she is on public property when he or she does so.

It does not matter that you may be on private property at the time and the photograph is taken from outside those premises.

You have the right to take photos of anyone or anything if it can be seen from a public area. This includes concerts, sporting events, parks, streets.

So where are the exceptions, once we leave public domain and enter private property we are subject to their rights of admission. Most shopping centers for example have “no photography’ signage posted at all their entrances and they have the right to revoke access.

Also beware of any building declared a National Key point they are strictly off limits, and on this point I have often been asked about photographing the police,  yes you can but be cautious not to obstruct them in the course of their work.

Please bear in mind that even if you are within your rights to take the photograph, sometimes it is just not the done thing, don’t become that creepy guy hiding behind a tree taking photos of children playing in a park.