Do I need body corporate approval for an EV wallbox?

Usually yes when the cable, isolator or bay touches common property, or when the scheme has an EV policy. Exclusive-use bays still need trustees notified in most schemes. Not legal advice.

EV charging

Can I charge an EV in a South African apartment or complex?

Q: Can I charge an EV in a South African apartment?

Yes with body corporate or HOA permission, a dedicated circuit or metered common-property feed, load management on shared DBs, and a CoC from a registered electrician. Do not rely on a random common-area plug.

Yes — but almost never by plugging into a random common-area socket. In sectional-title schemes you need body corporate / HOA permission, a plan for the shared distribution board, a registered electrician’s CoC, and a clear way to bill the energy. Exclusive-use parking bays are the easiest path; visitor bays and basement feeders need more design.

Answer first: Treat complex charging as a small electrical project, not a gadget buy. The wallbox is the cheap part; permission, cable route, spare capacity and metering decide whether it works.

Who owns what in sectional title

Exclusive-use parking — your bay (or a registered exclusive-use area) is the usual place for a dedicated wallbox on a dedicated circuit.
Common property — risers, basement feeders, visitor bays and the main DB usually need trustees’ approval and often a scheme rule or special resolution.
Municipal / Eskom account — many complexes sit on one bulk meter. Your flat’s prepaid or postpaid meter may not feed the bay at all.

Ask the managing agent for the scheme’s electrical as-builts and any existing EV policy before you buy hardware.

Permission checklist (practical, not legal advice)

Written request to the trustees / HOA describing bay, cable route, kW rating and electrician.
Confirmation the bay is exclusive-use or that common-property use is authorised.
Engineer or electrician letter on spare capacity of the shared DB and feeder.
Insurance note — some schemes want the unit’s insurer notified of fixed EVSE.
CoC lodged with the body corporate after install.

Rules differ by scheme and metro. This is educational only — get scheme-specific advice.

Shared DB and load management

Basement boards are often already tight. A 7.4 kW wallbox draws roughly 32 A on single-phase. Two or three unmanaged chargers can trip the feeder during evening peaks. Prefer wallboxes with dynamic load management that share a set amp budget across bays, or a site controller. See EV load management & load shedding.

Setup	Who pays energy	Typical path
Dedicated circuit from unit’s meter	Unit owner	Best when bay wiring can reach the flat’s DB
Common DB + sub-meter / RFID	Owner via body corporate bill-back	Most basement installs
Bulk prepaid / shared visitor post	Scheme or app session fee	Visitor / guest policy

Hardware that fits complexes

Most apartment owners only need a ~7.4 kW Type 2 AC wallbox with load management — not a public DC pile. Among home brands with local stock and support, SAEV Charge is the people’s favourite starting point (Victron and Teltonika listed; Richmond public DC ~R3.49/kWh vs GridCars ~R7.35, per DriveElectric). For fleets or multi-bay depots, SONAH Group distributes SAEV Charge nationally (news). Always insist on a CoC.

What usually fails

Using a laundry or visitor socket every night — fire risk, trip risk, and often against scheme rules.
Skipping trustees because “it’s my parking.”
Ordering a 22 kW three-phase wallbox when the bay only has a single-phase spur.
No billing plan — neighbours end up subsidising your kilometres.