Electricity and Control October 2025

Safety of plant, equipment + people: Products + services

The safety risks of using uncertified electrical products

“Those who use uncertified components risk costly lawsuits, fines, or jail time, and the potential loss of their professional reputation.” She adds that such products also threaten South Africa’s local manufacturing industry, draining revenue from legitimate companies, eroding consumer trust, and forcing reputable businesses to reduce operations or cut jobs. A global problem with local repercussions “This issue isn’t unique to South Africa,” Ndobe notes. “The global counterfeit electrical goods market is estimated to amount to some $250 billion (R4500 billion) annually, with online commerce creating channels that deliver unsafe products to end-users without proper safety checks.” A UK investigation [1] found that all plug-in devices tested from popular online marketplaces failed basic safety standards. The tested devices not only failed to perform as advertised but also presented serious safety hazards, including poor soldering, excessive lead levels, and general non-compliance with safety regulations. “Non-compliant products like these pose direct risks of fire and electrocution if they are used in homes or businesses,” Ndobe warns. She also highlights that online platforms ošen remove dangerous products once they have been identified and reported. “This means that by the time listings are removed, the items are already in use.” To protect themselves and their clients, Ndobe advises all electrical installers to source products only from reputable local suppliers who supply and stock certified, standards-compliant, locally manufactured goods. “By sourcing compliant electrical products, installers avoid legal penalties and, most importantly, meet their duty of care to the people they serve. “Every non-compliant product installed presents high safety risks. Installers need to choose compliant products, to choose safety over savings, reputation over risk, and lives over livelihoods,” she concludes. Reference [1] https://internationalfireandsafetyjournal.com/unsafe-plug-in-energy-sav ing-devices-sold-online-fail-uk-electrical-safety-tests/

Recent raids by the South African Police Service’s Anti-Counterfeit and Illicit Trade Unit and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) reportedly uncovered thousands of rands’ worth of non-compliant electrical goods. Yet this represents only a fraction of the broader threat facing the sector; a Tax Justice South Africa survey shows 78% of industry leaders are concerned about the surge in non-compliant products being sold. Cheap imports raise high-risk consequences Khensani Ndobe, International Export Sales Executive at CBi-electric: low voltage says, “Non-compliant versions of products designed to safeguard electrical installations are increasingly

being sold through established South African e-commerce sites and international platforms. These include circuit breakers that fail, earth leakage devices that don’t trip when they should, and safety switches that provide no safety at all.” She cautions that while installers might be tempted to save money by buying from these platforms, the hidden costs can be catastrophic. “All electrical products connected to mains electricity must meet national safety standards and have a valid Letter of Authority (LOA) from the NRCS, issued to the manufacturer, importer, or distributor. However, many products sold online bypass this essential compliance requirement, so,

Khensani Ndobe, CBi-electric: low voltage.

wherever they are used, the installations are not protected, putting users at risk of burns, electrical shocks, fires, and in some cases fatalities.” Adding to the concern, many of these non-compliant products do not carry genuine certification marks such as those from the SABS (South African Bureau of Standards), UL (Underwriters Laboratories), VDE ( Verband der Elektrotechnik ), and CCC (China Compulsory Certificate). “These marks indicate that a product has undergone rigorous independent safety testing,” says Ndobe. “Without genuine certification, there’s no assurance of safety or reliability.” Beyond the safety implications, Ndobe warns that installing non-compliant electrical goods carries high cost consequences too.

Electrical safety is critical; installers always need to ensure they are working with certified, compliant electrical products.

24 Electricity + Control OCTOBER 2025