Borehole drilling

Borehole drilling in South Africa: what it costs now

Updated 5 November 2026

A borehole in South Africa usually costs between R 30,000 and R 150,000 for a home, and drilling alone is about R 320 to R 1,500 per metre. The price depends on depth, the ground and whether a pump and tank are included. For a quote for your site, describe the job on BlaBlaPrice, and local drillers reply with their own offers.

Permits and what to check

Sources say drilling needs authorisation from the Department of Water and Sanitation, and permit costs typically range from R 500 to R 2,000 depending on the province. One listing gives a registration application fee of R 1,185, and another describes a written notice of intent to drill and an environmental assessment. Other sources say there is no specific licence for drilling companies. Ask your driller which steps apply to your site and who pays for them, and get the answer in writing.

Season and timing

November is the start of summer, which runs from December to February, and winter runs from June to August. If you want the borehole before the summer period, book the rig now, because a date agreed in advance is easier to keep than one arranged at short notice. Ask the driller how long the work takes at your expected depth, so you can plan your water use around it.

How drilling is priced and delivered

Drilling is quoted per metre, while casing pipe, cable and pumps usually appear as separate lines, as a published price calculator shows. Ask whether the quote covers travel to your property, because the rig has to reach the site from the driller's base. Quote depth in metres and tank size in litres, and name your city: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban or Gqeberha. Ask for a total as well as the per-metre rate.

What to write in your request

State the location (suburb and town), what the water is for (household, garden, farm or business), the depth you expect if you know it, whether you need a pump and tank, and when you want the work done. Say whether the site has rig access, such as a gravel road or a gate wide enough for a truck. Give your budget, and say whether you already have permission from the water department.

BlaBlaPrice is free for buyers. You describe the job in your own words in a chat, and the AI asks for missing details, looks through sellers' websites and price lists in South Africa, and shows the prices it finds. Registered sellers reply in the chat with their own offer, price and terms, and your contacts stay hidden until you decide to share them. Start from the home page, or read how it works first. For related work, see plumbing & utilities.