The Competition Commission released its final Guidelines on Repair, Service and Maintenance Aftermarkets on Monday, warning makers of smartphones, appliances and other electronics that practices which block independent repairers could breach the Competition Act.
The guidelines apply to a wide range of products, including mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles, televisions, washing machines, tumble dryers, medical devices and backup power and water systems. Motor vehicles are excluded because they fall under separate automotive aftermarket guidelines introduced in 2021.
A key focus is “parts pairing”, a practice where software links a component to a specific device so that the part will not work unless the manufacturer activates it. The commission says software that prevents a replacement part from functioning without activation, and warning messages displayed after an independent repair, will be treated as indirect restrictions on access to spare parts and will be a priority for investigation and enforcement.
There are exceptions. Controls on components that are tied to security or safety, such as anti-theft, authentication or battery systems, will not ordinarily be counted as restrictions, provided they are applied on objective, transparent and non-discriminatory terms. Independent repairers that meet the manufacturer’s accreditation requirements must be offered access on terms no less favourable than those offered to authorised repairers.
The commission stresses that the guidelines are not binding and do not create obligations beyond those already contained in the Competition Act. However, the act requires the Competition Tribunal, when setting a penalty, to consider whether the conduct is substantially the same as conduct described in the commission’s guidelines. The rules mainly affect repairs that consumers pay for themselves because the fault is not covered by a warranty.
How South Africa’s approach compares internationally
South Africa previously had no formal right-to-repair framework for consumer electronics, more than two years after industry groups began pressing for one. In contrast, the European Union has introduced binding rules. Since June 2025 an EU regulation has required smartphone and tablet makers to keep key spare parts available for at least seven years after a model stops being sold in the EU, and to provide the software needed for “parts-paired” replacements within three working days of a request. A separate EU repair directive, which member states had to apply from 31 July 2025, obliges manufacturers to repair products such as phones, televisions and washing machines on request, free of charge or at a reasonable price, and bars contractual, hardware or software techniques that impede repair unless justified by legitimate and objective factors.
South Africa’s guidelines are broader in scope, they also cover medical devices and backup power systems, but they rely on case-by-case enforcement of competition law rather than fixed obligations.
What this means for small repair businesses
For independent repair shops, the commission’s warning creates a clearer avenue to report manufacturers that engage in anticompetitive conduct. Repairers can now lodge complaints that a maker is using software to lock a part to a specific device or is refusing to supply spare parts, and the commission has said such conduct will be a priority for investigation.
At the same time, the guidelines introduce an accreditation requirement. Small repairers that wish to benefit from the same access as authorised service centres will need to meet the manufacturer’s accreditation standards, which may involve proving technical competence and adhering to safety protocols.
Overall, the guidelines could level the playing field by giving independent repairers a statutory basis to challenge restrictive practices, but they also add a compliance step. Repair businesses should review their current capabilities, consider seeking accreditation where possible, and monitor the commission’s enforcement actions for signals about which practices are being targeted.
For more analysis on how competition law affects the tech sector, see our Tech & Telco coverage.
