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Electricians in South Africa: what to know before you book

Electrical issues have a way of starting small… and turning serious fast. A plug that “sometimes trips” can become a melted socket. Flickering lights can point to loose connections. And if your earth leakage keeps going off, it’s often your home telling you something isn’t right.

Kandua helps you get it sorted by matching you with a vetted electrician for your job — whether it’s a repair, installation, inspection, upgrade, or an urgent call-out.

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A few quick answers (so you don’t have to scroll)

How do I choose a good electrician?
Pick someone who explains the cause (not just the symptom), tests before they replace parts, prices transparently, and can issue the right compliance paperwork when it’s required.

Do I need an Electrical Certificate of Compliance (CoC) in South Africa?
Often, yes — especially for property transfer and for any additions/alterations to an installation. The Department of Employment and Labour has also warned against “paper CoCs” issued without proper testing, and urges homeowners to use legally registered electrical contractors.

What should electrical work cost?
Most electricians charge a call-out fee + labour + materials, with higher rates for after-hours, complex fault finding, DB work, or urgent callouts. (There’s a pricing guide further down.)

What should I do first in an electrical emergency?
If it’s safe, switch off power at the main breaker, keep people away from the affected area (especially if there’s water), and call an electrician. If there’s smoke/fire risk, treat it as an emergency immediately.

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Common electrical problems (and what they usually mean)

You don’t need to diagnose like an electrician — but it helps to know what the usual “signals” point to.

“My plugs keep tripping / the power keeps going off”
Often caused by an overloaded circuit, a faulty appliance, a loose connection, or a problem at the DB (distribution board). If it’s frequent, don’t just keep resetting — you want proper testing to prevent heat build-up and damage.

“My earth leakage trips randomly (especially at night or when it rains)”
This can indicate moisture ingress, a faulty appliance, deteriorating insulation, outdoor circuits taking on water, or an earthing/bonding issue. It’s common — and it’s exactly the sort of thing that needs systematic fault finding.

“My lights flicker / dim when I use appliances”
Sometimes it’s a supply issue — but it can also point to loose connections, voltage drop, an overloaded circuit, or a stressed neutral. If you’re noticing it across multiple rooms, get it checked.

“I smell burning / a plug is warm / there’s buzzing at the DB”
Treat this as urgent. Heat + electrics is how small problems become big ones. Switch off the circuit (or main breaker if you’re unsure) and book an electrician.

“I get a small shock/tingle from taps or appliances”
That can be an earthing/bonding fault and should be investigated quickly — especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere near water.

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When it’s a DIY job — and when it isn’t

DIY can be fine for low-risk, non-electrical basics (like replacing a light bulb, resetting a tripped breaker once, or unplugging an appliance to test if it’s the cause).

Call an electrician when:

• a socket/switch is hot, crackling, discoloured, or smells burnt
• breakers/earth leakage keep tripping
• you suspect faulty wiring, water exposure, or a hidden issue
• you’re touching the DB, adding circuits, or upgrading capacity
• you’re installing high-load appliances (oven, hob, geyser, heat pump) or adding dedicated circuits
• you’re adding solar/inverter equipment or changing the installation layout
• you may need a CoC for compliance, insurance, or sale/transfer

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Certifications, registrations & compliance in South Africa (what matters and when)

This is the part people usually discover too late. Here’s the simple version.

1) Electrical CoC (Certificate of Compliance)

A CoC is a legal document confirming an electrical installation has been inspected and tested and is compliant. It’s commonly required before property sale/transfer, and it’s also required when electrical work involves additions or alterations.

Also important: the Department of Employment and Labour explicitly warns that a registered contractor may only issue a CoC after proper inspection/testing, and may not issue on behalf of an unregistered person.

2) “Registered person” (who is actually allowed to certify)

In practice, certification is tied to being a properly registered/authorised person (often referred to as a wireman’s licence / registered person in the industry). If you need a CoC, ask upfront:
“Are you legally registered to inspect, test, and issue the CoC for this work?”

3) CoC validity (the part everyone argues about)

A useful way to think about it:

• For transfer purposes, the regulations are commonly applied as “not older than 2 years”.
• For day-to-day living, it remains relevant until changes are made — if you alter/add to the installation, you’ll typically need a supplementary CoC for that work.

4) Solar / inverter / PV additions (very common now)

If you’re adding solar PV or inverter equipment, treat it as a compliance-sensitive electrical project. Industry guidance stresses that PV work should be under the supervision of properly qualified electrical persons, and the City of Cape Town’s guidance notes you should request the original electrical CoC from the registered installation electrician.

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Pricing: what to budget for an electrician in South Africa

Pricing varies by city, travel distance, urgency, and complexity — but most homeowners will see a familiar structure:

Typical cost structure

• Call-out fee (travel + initial assessment)
• Labour (hourly)
• Materials/parts
• After-hours premium (nights, weekends, public holidays)
• Specialist testing / fault finding time (often where the real value is)

Typical ranges you’ll see (guideline)

• Labour: roughly R350 – R700/hour for many standard jobs (average often around the mid-range), with higher rates for specialised work.
• Emergency call-out: often around R600 – R900 (and may or may not include the first hour — always ask).

A realistic “small job” expectation
Even when it sounds simple, budget for a call-out + 1–2 hours labour plus parts. If you have a few small fixes, bundling them into one visit often saves money.

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10 Genuinely helpful electrician FAQ's

1. What’s the difference between “the power tripped” and “earth leakage tripped”?
   A normal breaker trip usually points to overload or a circuit fault. Earth leakage trips when it detects current leaking to earth (often moisture, insulation breakdown, or a faulty appliance). If earth leakage trips repeatedly, it needs proper fault finding.
2. How do I figure out if it’s my appliance or the house wiring?
   A safe starting point is to unplug high-load appliances and see if the trip stops — but if trips continue (or you see heat/burning smells), stop testing and get an electrician. The correct method is measured testing, not guesswork.
3. Why does my plug socket feel warm?
   Warmth can mean a loose connection, overload, poor contact, or damaged wiring — all of which can create heat and become dangerous. Book it in sooner rather than later.
4. My lights flicker when I use the kettle/microwave — is that normal?
   Occasional minor dimming can happen, but persistent flickering/dimming can signal voltage drop, loose connections, overloaded circuits, or neutral issues. If it’s happening across rooms, get it checked.
5. Do I need a dedicated circuit for an oven/hob/geyser/heat pump?
   Very often, yes — these are high-load items and are safer (and usually more reliable) with correct isolation and wiring sized for the load. An electrician should assess and advise based on your DB capacity.
6. What’s involved in a DB (distribution board) upgrade?
   Typically: inspection of existing circuits, correcting unsafe/incorrect connections, adding/replacing breakers, ensuring earthing and bonding are correct, labelling circuits, and testing. DB work should be done carefully and properly documented.
7. Do I need a new CoC after renovations?
   If the renovation involved electrical additions/alterations (new circuits, moved points, new DB work, solar/inverter additions), you’ll usually need a supplementary CoC for that work.
8. How long does a CoC take to issue?
   It depends on how many defects are found. A proper CoC requires inspection and testing — if repairs are needed, it may take longer. Be wary of instant “paper CoCs” with no testing.
9. Does an electrical CoC cover everything in the house?
   A CoC generally relates to the electrical installation and its safety/compliance (distribution, wiring, earthing, bonding, etc.). If you have specialised systems (like solar PV or an electric fence), ask what additional documentation is required for those.
10. What should I ask an electrician before they start?
    Three questions cover most issues:

• “What do you think is the likely cause, and how will you test it?”
• “Is this priced as call-out + hourly + materials, and what counts as after-hours?”
• “Will this work require a CoC or supplementary CoC — and are you registered to issue it?”