BOTSIZA blog

Practical guides for SA tradespeople & their customers

Real-world advice on plumbing, electrical, accounting, legal, mechanical and painting questions — written for South African businesses and the customers who call them.

Plumbing · 6 min read

Geyser burst at 2am? What to do in the next 5 minutes (and how to stop it costing you R30,000)

A burst geyser can dump 200 litres of hot water through your ceiling in 10 minutes. Here's the South African plumber's playbook for the first 5 minutes — what to switch off, who to call, what your insurance needs.

2026-05-02
Accounting · 7 min read

VAT registration in South Africa for SMEs (2026): a plain-English guide

You've hit R1m turnover. Now what? When you must register for VAT, when it's smart to register voluntarily, and the SARS deadlines you cannot miss.

2026-05-02
Electrical · 5 min read

DB box keeps tripping: 6 common causes and how to diagnose each (SA electrical guide)

Your distribution board trips every time you switch on the kettle, or randomly in the night. Here's how a registered SA electrician diagnoses the cause without burning hours of your callout fee.

2026-05-02