DoEL Notice: Compliance with Electrical Installation Regulations and CoCs

Posted 21 November 2025 Written by Acts Online
Category Health and Safety

Brought to you by SA Accounting Academy: The Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL) has issued a formal notice to homeowners, businesses, and electrical contractors regarding mandatory compliance with electrical installation laws and the issuance of Certificates of Compliance (CoC).

In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993, specifically the Electrical Installation Regulations, the Department has reiterated that it is the legal responsibility of homeowners, businesses, and developers to ensure all electrical installations on their properties fully comply with applicable legislation and safety standards. This notice follows a marked increase in complaints in the Free State Province from new homeowners regarding non-compliant installations discovered after property transfers, despite the presence of a CoC.

The regulatory requirements and consequences for non-compliance include the following:

  • A valid CoC must be obtained and provided prior to the sale or transfer of any property.
  • If an electrical installation is found to be non-compliant after a transfer, the seller is held legally accountable for rectifying all defects and obtaining a new CoC at their own expense.
  • Only competent and legally registered electrical contractors may perform electrical work or issue a CoC.
  • Registered contractors are prohibited from issuing a CoC on behalf of unregistered individuals; doing so constitutes a criminal offence and may result in the revocation of the contractor’s registration.

The Department emphasizes that a registered contractor may only issue a CoC after conducting the necessary inspections and tests to ensure the installation is safe and compliant with the SANS 10142-1 standard (The wiring of premises).

Click here to download the official Department of Employment and Labour notice.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligation; however, when purchasing property, you should independently verify the credentials of the electrical contractor listed on the CoC via the DoEL database to ensure the document is valid.
  • For your business: Firms managing property portfolios or acting as developers must implement stricter procurement controls to ensure only registered electrical contractors are engaged, as the business remains legally liable for rectification costs regardless of the contractor’s initial certification.
  • For your clients: Sellers must be advised that the issuance of a CoC does not provide absolute indemnity; if the installation is found to be defective post-sale, the seller faces the financial risk of mandatory repairs and potential legal action for non-compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, No. 85 of 1993.

Originally published at https://accountingacademy.co.za/news/read/doel-notice-re-compliance-with-electrical-installation-laws-and-certificate

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