The Reality of SA Addressing

Street Addresses Don’t Work Properly:

• Many areas have no formal street names
• Stand numbers, AH numbers, and plot markers don’t appear on maps
• Google Maps often points to the wrong location entirely
• “123 Main Street” could be anywhere along a 2km stretch
• Estate and complex names aren’t recognized by mapping software
• Multiple properties share the same street address

Real Examples of Address Failures:

Example 1: The Pretoria Estate Address on order: “45 Lavender Street, Silver Lakes Estate, Pretoria”

What happens:

• Google Maps points to Lavender Street entrance
• But there are 3 entrances to Silver Lakes
• Stand 45 is accessible from the east entrance only
• Driver goes to main entrance (wrong side)
• 15 minutes wasted driving around trying to find access
• Customer calls: “Where are you? I can see the truck but you’re on the wrong side!”

With what3words: ///crisps.tulip.ozone Result: Direct to the correct gate. Zero confusion.

Example 2: The Johannesburg Complex Address on order: “Unit 12, Greenview Apartments, Jan Smuts Avenue”

What happens:

• Building has 4 separate entry points
• Unit 12 is in Block C, rear entrance
• Driver arrives at main entrance (wrong side)
• Security won’t let driver through to other side
• Driver has to exit, drive around block, find correct entrance
• 20 minutes wasted

With what3words: ///vocal.racing.bliss Result: Exact GPS coordinates to Block C rear entrance. First time, every time.

Example 3: The Township Address Address on order: “Katlehong Township, Ekurhuleni”

What happens:

• No street name provided (many townships have limited formal addressing)
• Traditional mapping doesn’t work
• Driver completely lost
• Multiple phone calls trying to navigate
• 30+ minutes wasted, frustrated customer, delayed route

With what3words: ///images.sweat.cactus Result: Precise location to the exact door. Works everywhere, even where formal addresses don’t exist.

Why Mapping Software Fails in SA

Traditional GPS coordinates are precise but impractical:

• Latitude/Longitude: -25.746111, 28.188056
• Try remembering that!
• Try saying it over the phone!
• One wrong digit = 100 meters off target

Street addresses are human-friendly but imprecise:

• “123 Oak Street” = anywhere along that street
• Doesn’t specify gate, entrance, or specific location
• Relies on infrastructure (street signs) that doesn’t always exist

what3words solves both problems: Human-friendly AND precise.

What is what3words?

what3words has divided the entire world into 3-meter squares and given each square a unique three-word address.

How It Works (Simple Explanation)

Imagine a giant invisible grid over the entire planet. Each square in this grid is exactly 3 meters × 3 meters. That’s about the size of:

• A parking space
• A small garden shed
• Your front gate area

Every single one of these squares has been given three unique, randomly generated words.

Examples from South Africa:

Union Buildings, Pretoria (main entrance):
///shrug.passes.noses

Table Mountain Cable Car (lower station entrance):
///chiefs.soccer.dine

Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton (fountain area):
///relate.exits.spit

Why Three Words?

Three words are:

• ✅ Easy to remember (unlike GPS coordinates)
• ✅ Easy to say over the phone (unlike long numbers)
• ✅ Hard to get wrong (each combination is unique)
• ✅ Work in any language (what3words supports multiple languages)
• ✅ Never change (your three words stay the same forever)

What Makes It Powerful for SA Delivery

Precision: 3-meter accuracy means we arrive at your exact gate, not somewhere on your street.

Universal Coverage: Works everywhere in South Africa:

• Urban areas with formal addresses
• Townships with limited addressing
• Rural areas with no street names
• Informal settlements
• Farms and agricultural holdings
• Estates and complexes

No Infrastructure Required: Unlike street addressing, what3words doesn’t need:

• Street signs
• House numbers
• Formal planning
• GPS satellites (once you have the words, any map can use them)

Example 1: Pretoria Security Estate

Before (traditional address): “Stand 234, Woodhill Estate, Pretoria East”

Problems:

• Estate has 5 different access gates
• Stand 234 accessible only from Gate 3 (Woodhill Drive entrance)
• Google Maps points to main gate (Gate 1)
• Driver wastes 10 minutes trying wrong gates
• Frozen goods sitting in truck during this time

After (with what3words): ///rapids.tribe.plank

Result:

• Direct navigation to Stand 234’s gate
• No confusion about which estate entrance
• Driver arrives first time, correct location
• Frozen goods delivered efficiently

Example 2: Cape Town Coastal Delivery

Before (traditional address): “23 Beach Road, Bloubergstrand”

Problems:

• Beach Road is 8km long
• Number 23 could be any of 4 different properties (numbering confusion)
• Beachfront properties have unclear access points
• Driver tries 3 different locations before finding correct one

After (with what3words): ///paving.mango.speech

Result:

• Exact location of customer’s gate
• No searching along Beach Road
• Direct delivery to precise spot

Example 3: Johannesburg Business Park

Before (traditional address): “Unit 45B, Corporate Park, Midrand”

Problems:

• Multiple buildings in the park, all look similar
• Unit numbering not sequential
• Loading bay for 45B at rear of building
• Driver arrives at main entrance, has to navigate complex internal roads

After (with what3words): ///spicy.bonus.flying

Result:

• Direct to loading bay entrance
• No driving through complex looking for Unit 45B
• Immediate access to correct delivery point

Method 1: Using Your Mobile Phone (Easiest)

For iPhone and Android:

Step 1: Download the App

• Go to App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android)
• Search “what3words”
• Download the free official app (red square icon)

Step 2: Find Your Location

• Open the what3words app
• Allow location permissions
• The app automatically shows your current location
• You’ll see three words at the top (this is your current what3words address)

Step 3: Get Your Gate’s Exact Location

• Walk to your front gate (the exact spot where you receive deliveries)
• Open the what3words app
• Wait for GPS to update (you’ll see the blue dot move to your position)
• The three words at the top are now your gate’s what3words address
• Tap the three words to see the full address

Step 4: Share It Method A (Copy/Paste):

• Tap the three words
• Tap “Share”
• Choose “Copy” or send via WhatsApp/SMS/Email

Method B (Save for Later):

• Tap the three words
• Tap “Save” (bookmark icon)
• Give it a name like “My Front Gate”
• Access it anytime from your saved locations

Pro Tips:

• Be precise: Stand exactly where you want the driver to stop
• Not inside your property – at the gate/door where handover happens
• If your gate is different from your front door, use the gate location
• Save multiple locations if you have different access points (e.g., main gate and back entrance)

Method 2: Using Your Computer/Desktop

Step 1: Go to the Website

• Open your browser
• Visit: https://what3words.com/

Step 2: Find Your Location Method A (Search):

• Type your street address in the search box
• Zoom in to your property on the map
• Click exactly on your gate location
• The three words appear in the left panel

Method B (Manual Navigation):

• Navigate the map to your area
• Zoom in until you can see individual properties
• Click precisely on your gate/entrance
• The three words appear in the left panel

Step 3: Verify It’s Correct

• The red square on the map should be exactly at your gate
• Zoom in to verify precision
• If slightly off, click again on the exact spot

Step 4: Save the Information

• Copy the three words (they look like: ///word.word.word)
• Save them in a document
• Add to your email signature
• Include on business cards if you run a business

Visual Verification Tip: Use satellite view to see your property from above. This makes it easier to click exactly on your gate location.

Do:

• ✅ Include the /// prefix (helps identify it as what3words)
• ✅ Write the words separated by dots: word.word.word
• ✅ Double-check spelling (one wrong letter = wrong location)
• ✅ Mention it’s for your gate/entrance (not center of property)
• ✅ Save it somewhere accessible (notes app, contacts, etc.)

Don’t:

• ❌ Forget the dots between words
• ❌ Mix up the word order (order matters!)
• ❌ Use words for your driveway if gate is the delivery point
• ❌ Rely only on what3words without providing street address (we need both)