ELECTRIC FENCE SYSTEM CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE & OTHER ISSUES

Please read this article if the property you sold or is in the process of selling has an electrical fence.

 

On 1 October 2012 Health and Safety Regulations (the “regulations”) issued in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (1993) became enforceable.

In terms of the regulations the seller of any property transferred on/after 1 October 2012 and which has an installed electrical fence, is obliged to supply the purchaser with an Electrical Fence System Certificate of Compliance (“EFCOC”).

An EFCOC must be issued by a person with sufficient knowledge of safety standards applicable to electrical fences and he/she must be issued with a certificate of registration by the Department of Labour.

I made contact with various electricians who in the past few weeks attempted to obtain certification from the Department of Labour. They were unable to do so. I was informed that the Department of Labour does not have forms available, does not have knowledge of the process and no staff members have been assigned to deal with certification.

I then consulted with the CEO of the Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa (Mr Tony McDonald) who informed him that at present neither a registered electrician nor anyone else is able to register with the Department of Labour and it is therefore impossible to obtain a valid EFCOC.

This however does not mean that the legal obligation of a seller to supply an EFCOC to a purchaser lapses. This clearly creates an untenable situation for which there is presently no solution.

As this issue develops and unfolds, I shall endeavour to keep you informed on this blog.

There seem to be other issues regarding electricians as well in that the duty to govern electricians and manage the process of their registrations has been taken away from the Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa and given to the Department of Labour. Obviously the Department is not able to manage this process either and the country may itself in 2013 without any registered electricians. The story is presently being investigated by the major news groups and should break within the next few days.