Bakkie-Brigade Solar Installations Put South African Homes and Businesses at Risk
The solar boom in South Africa has created new opportunities, but also a hidden danger for households and businesses. Informal and inexperienced installers, often referred to as the “bakkie brigade,” are leaving unsafe, poorly installed systems in their wake.
21/10/2025
The solar boom in
South Africa has created new opportunities, but
also a hidden danger for households and
businesses. Informal and inexperienced
installers, often referred to as the “bakkie
brigade,” are leaving unsafe, poorly installed
systems in their wake. The result is that
consumers are increasingly facing major repairs,
safety hazards, and unexpected costs, with
little to no after-sales support.
Alumo
Energy, one of the country’s leading solar
providers, warns that non-compliant products and
substandard workmanship are creating an
escalating after-sales crisis. Faulty components
and poorly installed systems often only reveal
problems months after installation, leaving
families and business owners to deal with the
consequences and compounding costs.
“’Grey’ imports and faulty parts often seem fine
initially,” says Rein Snoeck Henkemans, CEO of
Alumo Energy. “But when issues arise, these
installers disappear. Consumers are left
stranded, paying again just to make their
systems safe and compliant.”
The Hidden Dangers of Poor Installation
The rush to
solar over the past few years has opened the
market to hundreds of small operators. While
this has generated jobs, it has also created
opportunities for unqualified installers to work
outside compliance frameworks.
Alumo
Energy reports a sharp increase in after-sales
callouts from non-Alumo customers whose systems
were installed by such operators. Teams
frequently encounter cables crammed into single
trunking systems, live wires without proper
conduits, and inverters that were never approved
under South Africa’s National Rationalised
Specifications (NRS).
These flaws do more
than reduce efficiency - they create serious
risks of fire, electrocution, and total system
failure, putting homes, businesses, and lives in
danger.
Why Professional Maintenance Matters
Solar systems, like vehicles,
require regular servicing to remain safe and
reliable. Panels need cleaning to prevent dust
build-up, inverters require inspections to
maintain compliance, and cabling, connectors,
and fuses must be checked to guarantee safety.
Batteries should be monitored for charge cycles,
capacity, and temperature stability, while smart
monitoring systems and optimisers require
software updates to function effectively. Roof
fixings, mounting frames, and bolts also need
testing to remain secure and weather resistant.
“Technology is advancing every year,” says
Snoeck Henkemans. “Larger service providers can
keep their technicians trained and equipped in
ways that single-person installers simply
cannot. Thermal scans, for example, allow
professionals to detect hot spots or loose
connections before they become dangerous. These
are tools rarely available to small-scale
installers.”
Warranties Only Matter if They’re Backed by Professionals
When
choosing a solar provider, warranty support is
crucial. Established companies with direct
manufacturer ties can process claims quickly,
replace equipment, and minimise downtime. Alumo
Energy, for example, supplies loan batteries or
inverters during warranty claims, ensuring
households and businesses remain powered even
during repairs.
“A solar installation is
often one of the largest investments a household
will make,” Snoeck Henkemans concludes. “Without
proper maintenance, compliance, and professional
after-sales support, that investment is at
serious risk, and lives could be at stake.”