On Friday, October 11, Belkin, a US-based consumer electronics company, announced a recall of the Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for the Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K (model BPD005) in South Africa.
The company informed the South African Consumer Commission that manufacturing defects could cause the lithium cell in the portable wireless charger to overheat, creating a fire hazard for consumers.
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) is monitoring the recall under the Product Recall provisions of the Consumer Protection Act. The Belkin BoostCharge Pro was introduced to the market in June 2023 and is sold online, distributed by Fast Forward (Pty) Ltd.
Belkin has advised consumers who own this product to stop using it immediately, dispose of it safely, and request a full refund. To obtain a refund, consumers need to fill out a form with their contact information, the product’s serial number, a photo of the product, and proof of purchase for each item.
This is not the first significant recall in this category. In June 2024, Baseus, a Chinese company popular in South Africa, recalled around 132,000 magnetic wireless charging power banks due to similar fire risks. They also urged consumers to stop using the recalled lithium-ion batteries right away. Those with proof of purchase could receive a full refund, while those without could get a $36 cash refund.
Baseus reported receiving 171 incident reports, including 132 cases of “bulging or swelling batteries” and 39 fire-related complaints. There were also reports of 13 burn injuries and about $20,000 in property damage.
In South Africa, guidelines for product safety recalls require suppliers to have effective systems in place to recall unsafe consumer products efficiently. These recall systems should be tailored to the type of product and the risk level it poses to consumers. A product safety recall may be initiated when a potential health or safety hazard is identified, and suppliers may voluntarily recall a product if safety concerns arise. The NCC or other regulators can negotiate recalls when safety issues are identified or as part of compliance actions.
