Why South Africa has a new plug standard
Why did South Africa adopt a new socket and plug standard that no one appears to be using? There are good reasons for the decision.
Called SANS 164–2, or ZA Plug, the standard has the same shape as the Europlug and has been the preferred standard for new installations since 2013.
It differs from the Europlug in that it allows for an earth pin – slightly offset from the middle of the plug, between the live and neutral pins.
While the ZA Plug standard hasn’t been widely adopted in South Africa, it has been around for more than a decade.
It is based on the IEC 60906–1 standard which was published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) in 1986.
South Africa is the only country in the world that adopted the standard as specified by the IEC.
Read full story here: RSA Plug