Wholesale phones and parts for South African shops, tested in Shenzhen before they ship.
Used and refurbished iPhones, new Android phones, tablets, screens, batteries and repair parts, bought on the Huaqiangbei market floor by our own full-time buyer and tested one by one. You watch your batch on video before you pay the balance. Wholesale only, by the batch.
The short answer: We buy phones and parts in Shenzhen's Huaqiangbei market, test every unit and ship to South Africa. Import VAT is 15%, radio equipment must be ICASA type-approved, and used phones are import-controlled and need an ITAC permit, which we plan for before we buy.
Most phone stock reaches South Africa through three or four sets of hands. Nobody tests it on the way.
A screen or a used iPhone leaves a counter in Shenzhen, passes through a trader, an exporter and a wholesaler at home, and arrives on your bench having been switched on by nobody. You are the quality control, and you find the faults in front of your customers.
We take the middle out. Our buyer works the Huaqiangbei floors every day, and every phone and screen crosses our test bench in Shenzhen before it is packed for South Africa.
- Bought on the floorA full-time buyer in Huaqiangbei, comparing counters and walking away from batches that will not pass.
- Tested one by oneEvery phone IMEI-checked and lock-checked, every screen powered up and touch-tested, every battery capacity-tested.
- See it before you payYour batch on video, with the test record, before you pay the balance. Dead on arrival? Replaced or credited.
- Mixed trade ordersMix phones, screens, batteries and accessories in one order. Wholesale by the batch, for shops that resell or repair.
Used iPhones for South Africa: worth the permit.
Graded used iPhones and Samsungs are some of the best-margin stock a South African phone shop can carry, and buying them tested, straight from the Shenzhen trade, cuts out the layers in between. The catch is paperwork: used cellphones are import-controlled, so each commercial import needs an ITAC import permit.
We plan the order around it. Tell us the models, grades and quantities you want and we price them first, so your permit application carries real quantities and values. We supply the commercial invoice and IMEI list your paperwork needs, re-confirm prices when the permit is issued, then buy, test and ship. ITAC has reported a backlog on used-cellphone applications, so start early.
ITAC notice on used-cellphone permits
Plan a used-phone order with us →What applies when you bring phones & parts into South Africa.
Checked 16 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your exact products and HS codes in your quote. This is general guidance, not legal or tax advice.
Import VAT: 15%
VAT on imports is 15%, calculated on the customs value plus 10%, plus any duties.
SourceDuty: check your HS code
South Africa has no free trade agreement with China, so the general rate applies. In 2025 the 9% luxury excise was removed for smartphones up to R2,500 but still applies above that.
SourceRegistration
Importers must register with SARS Customs (Registration, Licensing and Accreditation). Non-resident importers must appoint a registered agent.
SourceICASA type approval
Phones and other radio equipment must be ICASA type-approved for import, sale and use, with a local representative for imported equipment. Non-approved phones have been seized.
SourceUsed phones need an ITAC permit
Used and second-hand goods, including used cellphones, are import-controlled and need an ITAC import permit. ITAC has reported a backlog on used cellphone applications, so we plan timing with you before we buy.
SourceShipping from Shenzhen to South Africa.
Express couriers deliver door to door from Shenzhen to South Africa. It is the fastest route for phones, parts and samples, and we confirm the transit time with the carrier in your quote.
Larger orders go by sea from Yantian or Shekou to Durban or Cape Town. Sailing times depend on the carrier and the season, so we include the forwarder's current schedule with your price.
The risk sits with us, not you.
See your batch before you pay the balance. After your deposit, we buy and test your batch in Shenzhen and send you the video and the test record for your parts: your models, your grades. You pay the balance only when you are happy with what you have seen.
Dead on arrival? Replaced or credited. If any part arrives dead or fails our stated test spec, send us a photo or a short video within 14 days. We replace it free on your next order, or credit it.
Parts damaged while being fitted are not covered. That is the only fine print.
An Irish-run team on the ground in China.
Ériu is run by Noel Murphy, an Irishman who has lived and worked in China since 2008. The team behind it is 53 people on the ground, 47 in Shenzhen and 6 in Zhengzhou, with warehouse space of our own.
You deal with us in plain English, on WhatsApp, from first message to delivery. We are in the same city as your factory, not on the other side of the world from it.
About the team →Phones & Parts for South Africa, answered.
Can I import used phones into South Africa?
Used goods, including used cellphones, are import-controlled and need an ITAC permit. New phones and parts do not need that permit, but radio equipment must be ICASA type-approved.
What VAT applies to imports into South Africa?
Import VAT is 15%, calculated on the customs value plus 10%, plus duties. Duty depends on the HS code; South Africa has no free trade agreement with China.
Tell us what you want to buy.
We reply within 24 hours with factory pricing and the landed cost to South Africa.