The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) warns against a make of paraffin stove

A Chinese-South African paraffin stove was a major fire hazard and should not be bought, the SABS has warned.

October 29 2007 at 03:51PM From the iol.co.za website

Marked "Panda" and made by Tao Ying Metal (Pty) Ltd in Bloemfontein, they failed to meet health, safety and environmental standards, said Moses Moeletsi, an executive director at the SABS.

This was despite pleas to improve the product and company officials having been part of a compulsory specification process.

"On several occasions SABS warned Tao Ying Metal not to sell these paraffin stoves, as they are one of the major causes of fire hazard in the shacks and in rural communities, leaving many communities displaced and further disadvantaged."

Moeletsi said the SABS had pleaded with the company to improve their product, which it failed to do.

"What is even more disturbing about the behaviour of the company is that its officials were part of the compulsory specification formulation process. Therefore they know what to do."

Meetings were held with the company and legal directives were issued to recall the stoves and not to sell existing stock.

The SABS had taken legal action against the company. Shops selling it were also doing so in breach of the law.

Anyone with a "Panda" stove was asked to return it to Tao Ying Metal.

The "Panda" was a non-pressure stove with a wick.

According to SABS senior manager for chemicals and materials, Thomas Madzivhe, the stoves might not extinguish themselves when tipped over, or could leak, and had a "tendency to burst into flames when in use". - Sapa