Decided to try my hand at street photography today, it really is as intimidating as some people say. Anyway after a little I kinda realised I actually have no idea what the law is, this was about the time I was in a shopping mall (I didnt see any No Photography signs) but noticed security was paying me attention and when I walked out overheard the guy at the door saying Code 9 out. So just curious if anyone had any idea?
South African Law
- Thread starter Skips
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- Mike
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I assume from the title that you are in South Africa. As far as I am aware, the law in South Africa is the same as elsewhere, photography is allowed in public places. Shopping malls, however, are privately owned and security can therefore ask you to stop taking photos.
Where in South Africa are you?
Where in South Africa are you?
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- Graeme
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Code 9 must have an internal radio message for that security company..it certainly means nothing in SAPS' radio messages. Mike has pretty much hit the nail on the head, although I guess the added fear in SA is possible reconnaisance for Cash-in-transits or armed robberies.
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- Elliott
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I'm from South Africa and the law is pretty much the same as in the UK.
Photography is allowed in public places. Shopping Malls etc. may ask you to stop, but overall I think you will find people are far less likely to worry about you taking photos than in the UK.
Photography is allowed in public places. Shopping Malls etc. may ask you to stop, but overall I think you will find people are far less likely to worry about you taking photos than in the UK.
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I think that in South Africa there is much less media driven hysteria about photographers being terrorists or peadophiles, rather as Graeme said it would be security concerns, so it would be wise to avoid banks, government buildings etc. Ordinary people will probably be OK about having their photos taken.
There are no general restrictions on taking photographs in public places, but photographing government buildings (particularly police stations and military installations) used to be prohibited. It may still be. Politicians' VIP security escorts (police and metro police) can be high handed and pretty much make up the law as they go along.
Shopping malls are private places, as others have said. They can ban or restrict photography and security can enforce this. You're fine if you are one of the dozens of people using mobile phone cameras to take snaps of each other in the mall, but serious cameras will attract attention. It doesn't really have anything to do with security at all, and the main reason is tenant sensitivity to competitors taking photographs of the stores.
Shopping malls are private places, as others have said. They can ban or restrict photography and security can enforce this. You're fine if you are one of the dozens of people using mobile phone cameras to take snaps of each other in the mall, but serious cameras will attract attention. It doesn't really have anything to do with security at all, and the main reason is tenant sensitivity to competitors taking photographs of the stores.
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- Tom
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A brown sealed envelope in the right direction helps hehehehe