Household appliancesThere is no need to buy Italian design and German engineering when it comes to household appliances. Although Defy is now owned by Turkish company Arcelik, many of their appliances are still manufactured in South Africa.
Whirlpool branded products are no longer manufactured in South Africa, but are all imported. Their KwaZulu-Natal factory now manufactures only their entry level brand KIC.
Defy manufacture all their chest freezers in South Africa and the majority of their refrigerators, too. We bought a Whirlpool fridge a number of years ago and were assured at the time it was locally produced. However, as mentioned, Whirlpool is now wholly imported and only the KIC products are locally made. If our fridge is anything to go by, the KIC products should be very functional and if not – there seems to be a good network of spares and repair services.
All Defy’s free-standing electric stoves and built-in ovens are made in RSA. Most of the Defy hobs are also locally produced. However, their Defy and Ocean branded gas stoves are NOT made in RSA.
KIC sell electric oven and hob sets.
I couldn’t find a South African microwave oven. Defy’s microwaves are imported as the company says there is no local manufacturing capacity.
Mellerware (for sale at, eg, Pick ‘n Pay) have two locally manufactured electric kettles, the ‘Graphite’ and the ‘Eco’ model. All their other appliances are made overseas.
And so are all other electric kettles sold in South Africa, regardless of the brand.
