This one plug has been ruining Carmen's mornings

Updated June 8, 2026, 1:26 p.m. | By East Coast Breakfast

What started as Carmen's frustration over a seemingly "useless" plug quickly turned into a lesson about safety, electricity, and why some household appliances refuse to use a standard socket.

This one plug has been ruining carmen's mornings — Canva

Every morning before the show, East Coast Breakfast co-host Carmen Reddy follows the same routine: coffee, makeup, hair... and a hunt for an adapter.

Her hairdryer uses one of those round two-pin plugs that never seem to fit where she needs it, leading to a daily search around the office for an extension lead or adapter. It's a frustration many South Africans know all too well.

But why do some appliances use these plugs while others don't?

That's the question Carmen put to listeners, and the answers opened up a much bigger conversation than anyone expected. From hairdryers and vacuum cleaners to lawnmowers and power tools, listeners weighed in with theories about safety, grounding, water exposure and even why these plugs might be designed to stay connected more securely.

ALSO READ: South Africa’s old electrical plugs are being replaced – here’s what’s coming next

The discussion introduced the team to the mysterious "Schuko plug" and revealed some surprising facts about the appliances we use every day.

So, are these plugs actually protecting us, or are they just making life unnecessarily difficult?

Listen to the full Breakfast Show conversation to hear the explanations, the debate, and the unexpected twist that had everyone questioning their household appliances