New guidance targets manufacturers’ control over spare parts, diagnostic tools and repair software across electronics, appliances, medical devices and backup power systems.
South Africa’s Competition Commission has moved to extend its right-to-repair agenda well beyond the motor trade, publishing final guidance that could reshape after-sales markets for electronics, household appliances, medical devices and backup power systems. The new framework, issued under section 79 of the Competition Act, signals that the regulator will now apply the same competition concerns it identified in vehicle repair to a much wider range of consumer and technical goods.
According to the Commission, the central issue is that original equipment manufacturers can use control over spare parts, technical data, diagnostic software and product design to keep independent repair businesses out of the market once warranty cover ends. The final guidance follows earlier work in the automotive aftermarket, where similar rules were introduced in 2021 and updated in 2024. Before publishing the final text, the Commission also sought comments on draft guidelines released in August 2026 and consulted independent repairers across several sectors.
The scope of the guidance is broad. It covers mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles, televisions, audiovisual equipment, washing machines, tumble dryers, medical equipment, inverters and other backup water and electricity systems. Motor vehicles are excluded, because they remain subject to a separate aftermarket regime. The Commission has also made clear that the rules apply to repairs outside warranty protection, whether the warranty has expired or the damage is not covered, although it says a product being within warranty does not automatically remove all repair activity from scrutiny.
The regulator has identified several practices it will examine closely. These include restrictive spare-parts distribution, refusals to supply, discriminatory terms, and pricing that may be excessive where a manufacturer has significant market power. It will also scrutinise so-called parts pairing, in which software prevents a replacement component from working unless it is activated by the maker, as well as warning messages after independent repairs and limits on firmware needed to complete a repair. Restrictions on diagnostic tools and technical information, particularly where less onerous alternatives are available, are also in scope.
The Commission said it will look at warranty terms, loyalty schemes and rebates that may steer consumers back to manufacturer-approved repair channels, along with barriers that make it harder to move between repair providers. Accreditation rules for independent repairers will be assessed for transparency, proportionality and consistency. The guidance also sets out the legal provisions the Commission may rely on, including rules on restrictive vertical practices, exclusionary conduct by dominant firms and price discrimination that may harm small businesses or firms owned by historically disadvantaged people.
At the same time, the Commission has recognised that some restrictions may be justified. It points to intellectual property protection, safety, security, regulatory compliance and technological efficiency as possible defences. Even so, it says conduct that is likely to substantially prevent or lessen competition will face a demanding evidentiary test. Manufacturers are now being urged to review their spare-parts policies, software activation systems, diagnostic access arrangements, warranty language and accreditation criteria.
For independent repairers, the final guidance offers a clearer benchmark for challenging practices they believe shut them out of the market. For consumers, the Commission expects the result could be lower repair costs, broader choice and longer product lifespans. Industry groups had already argued during the draft stage that the rules could improve fairness and create more opportunities for small repair businesses, while reducing pressure on customers. The Commission’s next test will be whether the new framework is backed by enforcement that changes how manufacturers design and control after-sales services.
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