South African homes ask a lot of their electrical wiring — load-shedding, inverters, solar tie-ins, and ageing distribution boards from the 80s. A good electrician fixes the immediate fault and tells you what's lurking behind it.
What electrical work covers
- Distribution-board upgrades and earth-leakage faults
- New circuits — kitchens, garages, outside lights, electric gates
- Inverter and UPS installation, battery wiring
- Solar PV grid-tie and hybrid system installs (often with a separate solar specialist)
- LED downlight conversions, dimmer fitting, smart switches
- Fault-finding: tripping breakers, dead plugs, intermittent lights
- Compliance: Certificate of Compliance (COC) for property transfers
What electrical work costs in South Africa (2026)
Callout fees sit around R450-R750. Hourly rates run R400-R650 for a registered electrician. A full COC inspection typically costs R1,200-R3,500 depending on house size and how many fixes come up. New plug points are R500-R1,200 each installed; new dedicated circuits with cabling run R2,000-R5,000 per circuit. Inverter installations vary wildly — a 5kVA backup with a basic battery is R45,000-R75,000 installed, while full hybrid solar setups land between R120,000 and R250,000.
What to look for in a good electrician
- Department of Labour-registered installation electrician — they can issue a COC, which is non-negotiable when you sell.
- Specialism match — domestic electricians and solar electricians are different skill sets.
- Documented test reports after fault-finding, not just "it's fixed".
- References from work over R10,000 — bigger jobs reveal more about workmanship.
When to call vs DIY
Replacing a light bulb, switching out a downlight bezel, or fitting a new plug top — fine. Anything inside a wall, anything in your DB, anything to do with the geyser, the gate, the pool pump, or the solar inverter — call an electrician. Doing electrical work yourself voids most home insurance policies, and a bad join inside a wall can quietly cook for years before it sets the ceiling alight.
Handi-za electricians come with verified profiles, ratings tied to completed jobs, and the trade categories they're actually licensed for. Post your job to get quotes, then pick the one whose ratings, distance, and pricing fit.