Unsafe Electrical Products Are
Flooding South Africa

And Consumers Are Paying the Price

South Africans are increasingly asking the same question: why are legitimate manufacturers and importers shutting down while unsafe electrical products continue flooding the market unchecked?

From cheap adaptors and extension cords to circuit breakers, light fittings, appliances, and multiplugs, dangerous non-compliant electrical products are becoming more common in homes and businesses across the country. And while consumers face growing safety risks, compliant businesses investing in proper testing, quality control, and local jobs are struggling to survive. Illicit trading in unsafe electrical products appears to be thriving under weak enforcement, while government regulators face mounting criticism for failing to protect consumers effectively. Even the National Consumer Commission (NCC), tasked with consumer protection, appears unable to slow the growing flood of unsafe products entering the market.

Why This Should Concern Every South African

Unsafe electrical products are not just cheap knock-offs. They can cause serious harm. Many non-compliant products are unable to safely handle South African electrical loads and conditions, increasing the risk of:

Electrical fires
Electric shock and electrocution
Overheating and melting
Appliance damage
Power failures

These products are often made using inferior materials, poor insulation, fake approvals, and low-quality components. The danger is made worse by weak enforcement. According to Safehouse, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) continues to face criticism over limited market surveillance, weak enforcement, and a lack of visible accountability against offenders.

Unsafe Products Are Often Hiding in Plain Sight

One of the biggest problems facing consumers is that unsafe products often look legitimate. Many illicit traders operate using fake business addresses while importing or assembling products from undisclosed sources. Cheap products sold online, through informal traders, or via unverified sellers may appear normal at first glance while hiding serious safety risks underneath. Even compliance documentation is being abused. Letters of Authority (LoAs), intended to confirm product compliance, are increasingly being used to promote products that are completely different from the products originally approved. When sellers avoid sharing valid compliance documentation or provide vague excuses, consumers should see this as a major warning sign. The consequences are already being felt across South Africa. Circuit breakers fail to trip. Extension cords melt under normal use. Light fittings overheat and ignite. And consumers are often left unaware of the danger until something goes wrong.

What Consumers Should Look Out For

Price alone should never determine whether an electrical product is safe. Unsafe products are often designed to look convincing, which means consumers need to pay closer attention to warning signs when shopping.

General Red Flags

Be cautious of products that:

Have no clear manufacturer or importer details
Have poor packaging or broken English instructions
Are sold at unusually cheap prices
Are sold through informal markets or unverified online sellers
Only display a “CE” mark with no South African compliance information

The “CE” mark alone is not enough to confirm compliance in South Africa and may itself be falsified.

Adaptors

Unsafe adaptors are one of the most common electrical risks in homes. Before buying an adaptor:

Make sure it feels solid and properly built
Avoid products with cracks, loose parts, or flimsy plastic
Ensure there is proper insulation
Check that markings and ratings are clearly printed on the product, including the manufacturer’s name or trademark, model number, voltage and current ratings, and compliance with relevant South African National Standards, such as SANS 164
Buy from reputable retailers wherever possible

Ensure this symbol is on the product:

Cheap, poorly made adaptors can overheat, melt, or create serious fire and shock hazards.

Extension Cords, Multiplugs & Power Strips

Extension cords and multiplugs are often treated as harmless household items, but poor-quality versions can be extremely dangerous. Look out for:

Lightweight, flimsy products
Loose plugs or poorly fitting sockets
Thin or poorly insulated cables
Products that become hot during use
Clear 250V ~ 10A or 16A rating

Heavier extension cords are often a better sign, as genuine copper conductors weigh more than unsafe copper-clad aluminium alternatives. Consumers should also avoid overloading multiplugs or connecting extension cords into one another, commonly known as daisy-chaining.

Pro Tip: Check What’s Inside the Cable

Some cheap extension cords use lower-quality materials that can overheat far more easily than genuine copper wiring. One quick indicator is a simple flame test. When exposed to a lighter flame, genuine copper conductors usually darken or change colour slightly. Unsafe Copper Clad Aluminium (CCA) conductors, on the other hand, often burn, spark, or frizzle. While this test is more commonly used by retailers and procurement teams, it’s a powerful reminder that not all extension cords are built the same, even if they look similar on the shelf.

Bottom wire: Compliant copper. Top wire: Non-compliant CCA wire after 13 seconds flame test. Bottom wire: Compliant copper wire after 21 seconds flame test.

Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers are one of the most important safety devices in your home. They’re designed to cut power during electrical faults and help prevent fires, shocks, and serious damage. Be cautious of circuit breakers that:

Feel loose, flimsy, or poorly made
Have blurry, faded, or poorly printed markings
Appear unbranded or suspiciously cheap

Where possible, look for SANS 556-1 / VC 8036 markings. Poor-quality circuit breakers may fail to trip during overloads or short circuits, putting your home and family at serious risk.

Light Fittings & LEDs

When buying light fittings, floodlights, LEDs, or bulkheads:

Avoid thin, flimsy plastic fittings
Check for solid construction
Be cautious of fittings that overheat quickly
Purchase from reputable suppliers wherever possible

Poor-quality light fittings can overheat and become fire hazards over time.

Household Appliances

Appliances like kettles, irons, heaters, and stoves should never feel dangerously hot during normal use. Consumers should look for:

Clear safety warnings
Solid construction
Good insulation
Reliable retailer support and warranties

Cheap appliances may save money upfront but can pose major long-term safety risks.

Fridges & Freezers

Fridges and freezers should not only feel well-built, but should also display proper energy efficiency and compliance labelling. Consumers should look for:

Energy efficiency labels clearly displayed on the appliance
Proper seals and stable temperature performance
Solid construction and quality finishes
Products that do not become excessively hot during operation

Cheap imported units often lack proper safety and energy compliance, increasing the risk of electrical faults, poor performance, higher electricity usage, and shortened product lifespan. If key labels or compliance information are missing, treat it as a warning sign.

South Africans are increasingly asking the same question: why are legitimate manufacturers and importers shutting down while unsafe electrical products continue flooding the market unchecked?

Illicit trading in unsafe electrical products appears to be thriving under weak enforcement, while government regulators face mounting criticism for failing to protect consumers effectively. Even the National Consumer Commission (NCC), tasked with consumer protection, appears unable to slow the growing flood of unsafe products entering the market.

Why This Should Concern Every South African

Unsafe electrical products are not just cheap knock-offs. They can cause serious harm.

Many non-compliant products are unable to safely handle South African electrical loads and conditions, increasing the risk of:

Electrical fires
Electric shock and electrocution
Overheating and melting
Appliance damage
Power failures

These products are often made using inferior materials, poor insulation, fake approvals, and low-quality components.

The danger is made worse by weak enforcement. According to Safehouse, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) continues to face criticism over limited market surveillance, weak enforcement, and a lack of visible accountability against offenders.

Unsafe Products Are Often Hiding in Plain Sight

One of the biggest problems facing consumers is that unsafe products often look legitimate.

Many illicit traders operate using fake business addresses while importing or assembling products from undisclosed sources. Cheap products sold online, through informal traders, or via unverified sellers may appear normal at first glance while hiding serious safety risks underneath.

Even compliance documentation is being abused.

Letters of Authority (LoAs), intended to confirm product compliance, are increasingly being used to promote products that are completely different from the products originally approved. When sellers avoid sharing valid compliance documentation or provide vague excuses, consumers should see this as a major warning sign.

The consequences are already being felt across South Africa.

Circuit breakers fail to trip. Extension cords melt under normal use. Light fittings overheat and ignite. And consumers are often left unaware of the danger until something goes wrong.

Unsafe Products Are Often Hiding in Plain Sight

One of the biggest problems facing consumers is that unsafe products often look legitimate.

Even compliance documentation is being abused.

The consequences are already being felt across South Africa.

Circuit breakers fail to trip. Extension cords melt under normal use. Light fittings overheat and ignite. And consumers are often left unaware of the danger until something goes wrong.