The electrical Certificate of Compliance, or CoC, is not a suggestion. It is a legal requirement. In South Africa, a property transfer cannot be registered at the Deeds Office without a valid CoC issued by a registered electrician with a Wireman's License and registration with the Electrical Contracting Board of South Africa. The law governing this is the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, read together with the Electrical Installation Regulations.
Morné Prinsloo, Residential Property Specialist RE/MAX Town and Country Roodepoort & Krugersdorp, explains that when a seller refuses to fix an electrical fault that is preventing the CoC from being issued, they are not simply being difficult. They are potentially in breach of their legal obligation and of their own sale agreement. "My job in this situation is to help the seller understand their position clearly, before the deal collapses and before either party has to involve lawyers," he says.
