SA's electrical safety crisis: Consumers at risk from non-compliant products

Many South African consumers assume that if an electrical product is sold in a store, it has been properly vetted and is safe to use, but that trust may be misplaced. 

According to voluntary electrical safety association Safehouse, South Africa has no reliable national statistics on electrical product compliance, while independent industry testing continues to reveal alarmingly high failure rates among products on retail shelves.

The association was established in 2014 in response to weak regulation and insufficient market oversight by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), which largely depends on administrative approvals and single type-test reports. Safehouse warned that without continuous quality control, non-compliant products can easily slip through the system, allowing unscrupulous importers and manufacturers to market multiple products under a single approval certificate. 

Safehouse warned that the problem is compounded by the NRCS not publicly identifying non-compliant products, which leaves consumers at unnecessary risk.

“Without ongoing quality control, the risk of undetected non-compliance increases significantly, creating a system that can be exploited by certain importers and unscrupulous local manufacturers to sell a wide range of products under a single approval certificate.”

The association further noted that many electrical products currently on retail shelves fail to meet basic safety standards. While non-compliance is not always immediately visible or instantly dangerous, such products can pose serious risks over time. 

“More concerning is the systemic threat of South Africa’s illicit electrical goods trade and the far-reaching consequences it has on consumer safety, economic stability and industrial sustainability,” it stated. 

A recent report by TRACIT and Busa estimates South Africa’s illicit trade at R100 billion, or 1.5% of GDP, causing widespread harm to lawful manufacturers, retailers, workers, and tax revenue. Safehouse added that despite some NRCS enforcement, less than 0.5% of this illicit activity is effectively monitored.

Safehouse is pushing for stronger compliance in South Africa’s electrical goods sector, urging both consumers and retailers to prioritise safety.

“Robust processes are being put in place thanks to our members’ continued commitment to product safety and regulatory compliance. Consumers can now make more informed and reliable choices by selecting products bearing the Safehouse mark and checking the Safehouse website to verify suppliers and businesses that are accredited members,” said Safehouse’s Technical Lead and Chairperson, Connie Jonker.

Jonker noted that compliance cannot be determined by appearance, as the surge of cheap, non-compliant products, often entering through porous borders or online, remains a major concern, with nearly 80% of electro-technical companies reporting heightened risk, according to Tax Justice South Africa.

“Even experienced people cannot reliably identify a compliant product on a shelf.” He warns that non-compliant products carry real dangers, from electrical shocks to fires, and that buying very cheap products increases the risk, even when approved via a Certificate of Conformity.

Safehouse stresses that retailers also carry a key responsibility to ensure the products they sell are safe and compliant, serving as the first line of defense against faulty goods.

“You can’t see electrical safety with the naked eye. Two products may look identical on a shelf, yet one can meet every requirement while the other fails critical safety tests. That’s why ongoing compliance testing matters, and why consumers and retailers need a way to know who is doing things properly,” Jonker said.

The Star

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