Substandard electrical cables and weak market enforcement are raising fire risks, with small businesses among those vulnerable to the consequences of choosing cheaper products.
South African consumers and businesses are being urged to exercise caution when purchasing electrical extension cords amid growing concerns over the availability of non-compliant products in the local market.
ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk has warned that cheaper extension leads can pose a serious fire risk when they fail to meet South African safety standards.
The warning follows concerns raised by Safehouse, a non-profit organisation focused on protecting South African businesses and consumers from unsafe electrical products and services. Safehouse has highlighted instances where cheaper extension leads may contain aluminium conductors instead of copper.
While aluminium can reduce manufacturing costs, it does not provide the same performance as copper.
It can be more susceptible to degradation and overheating when products are poorly designed, manufactured or used beyond their rated capacity.
“From a fire safety perspective, this is deeply worrying,” said van Niekerk.
“When conductors degrade or overheat, ignition becomes a real possibility, especially in residential environments where extension leads are used continuously and often overloaded.”
Compliance failures and limited oversight
South Africa has established safety benchmarks through the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), with applicable SANS standards governing electrical cables and appliances. However, enforcement remains inconsistent.
The National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), responsible for ensuring compliance, has been criticised for limited market surveillance in the fast-growing online retail space where many of these products are sold.
“Compliance on paper does not always translate to safety in practice,” added van Niekerk.
“Testing regimes and Letters of Authority are important, but they must be backed by active enforcement and accountability across the supply chain.”
The hidden cost of cheap electrical products
One of the biggest challenges for consumers and small businesses is that non-compliant products are not always easy to identify.
Price often becomes the most visible indicator, but the consequences of choosing the cheapest option can be severe.
For small businesses operating from homes, shops, workshops and other premises where multiple electrical appliances are used, a faulty extension lead can result in equipment damage, fire, business interruption and costly losses.
“Saving a few rand on an extension cable is simply not worth the risk,” van Niekerk said.
“We regularly see how electrical faults escalate into full-scale fires, particularly where poor-quality components are involved.”
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has announced tighter controls on imported goods, including Certificates of Conformity for certain product categories.
For businesses, stronger controls could help level the playing field by reducing the availability of cheaper products that do not meet required safety standards.
Van Niekerk said preventing electrical fires requires action from regulators, suppliers and consumers.
“Choosing compliant, quality-assured products, ensuring they are used correctly and installing them on circuits protected by earth leakage circuit breakers is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect lives and property.”
