Electrical work done incorrectly is not just frustrating — it is a fire risk, an electrocution risk, and a legal liability. In South Africa, an estimated 50% of residential fires are linked to electrical faults, many of which trace back to work done by unqualified or unregistered electricians. Unlike a bad paint job or a leaking tap, electrical work that is not done correctly may not show any obvious problems for months or years — until something fails catastrophically. Knowing the warning signs of a problematic electrician before work begins, or recognising them as it unfolds, can prevent an outcome that is expensive at best and lethal at worst.
This guide covers the red flags that experienced homeowners and building inspectors see most often, why each of these signals matters, what your rights are when electrical work goes wrong, and how to protect yourself from the most common forms of electrical fraud and negligence in South Africa.
No Certificate of Compliance — The Biggest Risk
Under South African law, every electrical installation — new work, alterations, or additions to an existing installation — must be accompanied by a Certificate of Compliance (COC) issued by a registered electrician at the completion of the work. The COC certifies that the installation complies with SANS 10142, the South African national standard for the wiring of premises.
An electrician who does work without issuing a COC is working illegally. An electrician who issues a COC for work they did not actually test and verify is committing fraud. Both scenarios leave you exposed: your home insurance may not cover fire or electrical damage caused by non-compliant installation, you may be unable to sell the property without a valid COC, and you bear personal liability for any harm resulting from an illegal installation.
Always ask before work begins: "Will you provide a Certificate of Compliance on completion?" The answer should be an unequivocal yes. If an electrician says you "probably don't need one" for a small job, or that it is optional, or that they can sort it out later, these are warning signs. The COC requirement applies to all electrical work — there is no size threshold below which it is not required.
After the work is done, check that the COC you receive is issued by a real registered electrical contractor. SANS 10142 requires that COCs be issued by a registered electrical contractor holding a valid licence from the Department of Labour. You can verify contractor registration at the Department of Employment and Labour.
No Registration or No Willingness to Show It
Electrical contractors in South Africa must hold a Certificate of Competency issued by the Department of Employment and Labour. This requires a Trade Test pass, which is a rigorous assessment of practical and theoretical electrical knowledge. Individuals without this certification are not permitted to do electrical work professionally.
Ask every electrician you consider: "Are you a registered electrical contractor, and can you show me your registration?" A registered electrician will produce this documentation without hesitation. An electrician who becomes evasive, who says they are "in the process" of registering, or who cannot produce documentation is unregistered — and unregistered electrical work has no path to a valid COC.
The danger of unregistered work goes beyond the legal issue. The Trade Test requirement exists because electrical work requires specific knowledge of circuit loading, earthing and bonding, fault protection, and material specifications. Someone without this training may produce work that looks correct but has fundamental safety deficiencies that only become apparent when a fault occurs.
Cash-Only, No Quote, No Invoice
An electrician who will only work for cash, who refuses to provide a written quote before starting, and who does not issue a tax invoice is operating outside the formal economy in a way that makes accountability very difficult. Without a written quote, you have no protection against a dramatically higher invoice than you were told to expect. Without an invoice, you have no paper record of what work was done and by whom — which is particularly important if the work later causes problems and you need to pursue a claim or a remedy.
A written quote should specify the scope of work, the materials to be used, the labour cost, and the total price inclusive of VAT if the contractor is VAT registered. An invoice after the work should match the quote and specify what was done. These are basic business practices that every legitimate electrical contractor should follow as a matter of course.
Substandard Materials
The quality of materials used in electrical installation — cable gauge, cable rating, distribution board components, earth leakage circuit breakers, and conduit — directly affects both the safety and the longevity of the work. A contractor who cuts costs by using materials that do not meet the SANS specification is creating a safety risk that you will not be able to see once the work is complete.
Ask your electrician what cable specification they will use for the specific job, and what brand of circuit breakers and earth leakage unit they will install. Familiar, reputable brands — Crabtree, Legrand, ABB, Schneider — provide reliable, tested components. Generic or unbranded components have no tested reliability and may not trip correctly under fault conditions — which is precisely when they need to work.
If you notice that materials being used look different from what was specified, or that the contractor is using cable retrieved from a previous job rather than new cable, raise the concern immediately. An electrician who is offended by this question is not an electrician you should continue to use.
Working Without Switching Off the Supply
Working on live circuits is dangerous and is against safe working practices under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. A competent electrician isolates the relevant circuit or the mains supply before working on any installation. An electrician who works on live circuits — even briefly or for convenience — is taking a risk with their own safety and with the safety of your installation.
If you observe an electrician working on what appears to be a live circuit without isolation, ask them to explain. The explanation should be either that the circuit is isolated at a specific point, or that the nature of the work (fault finding, for example) requires live testing with appropriate safety measures. "I'll be quick" or "it's fine, I know what I'm doing" are not safe working practices.
Vague or Mismatched Scope
An electrician who starts work beyond the agreed scope without discussion — opening walls that were not supposed to be opened, replacing components that were not in the quote, or doing additional work that adds to the invoice — is either expanding scope because they found a genuine problem (which should be discussed with you before proceeding) or is creating billing opportunities that were not authorised.
Any change to the agreed scope should be discussed with you before the work proceeds, with an explanation of why the additional work is necessary and what it will cost. A verbal "I found something while I was in there" followed by a significantly higher invoice is not acceptable — additional work requires your prior approval.
Refusing to Test After Installation
A proper electrical installation is tested before sign-off. Testing includes continuity of earthing conductors, insulation resistance testing, polarity verification, and earth fault loop impedance testing where applicable. These tests verify that the installation is safe and compliant. An electrician who completes work and leaves without performing any testing — or who says the work "looks fine" without instruments — is not completing the job properly.
The test results should be recorded on the COC. If the COC you receive has blank test result fields, it has not been properly completed. A COC with fabricated test results is fraudulent and provides no meaningful assurance of compliance.
Quick Checklist — Protecting Yourself
- Ask for proof of electrical contractor registration before any work begins
- Confirm a Certificate of Compliance will be issued on completion — for all electrical work without exception
- Get a written quote specifying scope, materials, and total price before authorising work
- Confirm the brand and specification of major components — cable rating, circuit breakers, earth leakage unit
- Ensure the supply is isolated before the electrician works on any circuit
- Do not authorise additional scope without a discussion and a revised quote
- Check that testing instruments are used before the job is signed off
- Verify the COC is properly completed with test results before making final payment
Electrical work that is done correctly and certified properly protects your family, your property, and your ability to insure and sell your home. The warning signs in this guide are consistently present in cases where electrical work later caused fires, injuries, or insurance disputes. Reviews from South Africans who have used local electricians can help you identify contractors who consistently do things right the first time. KiesSlim makes it easy to find and compare electricians near you.