Can a tourist on a 30-day VOA in Chiang Mai obtain a Non-O visa in Thailand for retirement purposes?

There's only ONE consulate I know that will let S/A passport holders show up and apply for visas without the "4 week review period" and that's Vientiane.

If your friend meets the proof of funds he could make an appt (that consulate has mandatory appt requirement) show up, apply for the 90 day single entry Non-O visa based on being over 50 (retirement) for 2000baht then get 90 days when he enters thailand,

When his stamp is down to 45 days or less and his 800K baht has been in the thai bank account for 2 months he can go to the immigration office and apply for the year extension for 1900baht.

He won't have any issue applying for a year extension from a Non-O visa entry even with a S/A passport 🙂

Chiang Mai (and some other immigration offices) as well as quite a few Thai consulates just refuse to issue visas to South African passport holders.

AND

Even bangkok makes my South African friend get a police clearance from Special Branch EVERY year when he gets a new extension and he's been here 10+ years

Does he meet the requirements for application at Chiangmai Mai office? Including remaining days of stamp, prof of funds (in his Thai bank account or embassy letter), etc?

Did he ask for requirement list?

and he went to the MAIN immigration office and asked right? he didn't go to that satellite office at Central Festival?

Is your friend from any of these countries? Hong Kong**

Laos

Macau

Mongolia

Russia (&VoA)

Vietnam**