The Institute of Plumbing South Africa (IOPSA) is issuing an urgent warning to all plumbing professionals, retailers, and consumers following a formal notice from Henkel South Africa regarding the discovery of counterfeit Tangit products being sold under misleading names such as "Tonqit" and "Lanqit", and falsely associated with a fictitious company called "Honkoi."

These counterfeit products are not manufactured, endorsed, or distributed by Henkel and pose serious risks to consumer safety, installation integrity, and the professional reputation of our industry.

What’s Happening

• Counterfeit Tangit products have been found in circulation, particularly in Gauteng Province, where enforcement actions have already led to the confiscation of fake goods.
• These products are being sold through unauthorized retailers and non-official channels, often at discounted prices to lure unsuspecting buyers.
• The packaging mimics the genuine Tangit brand but contains misspellings, inconsistent logos, and substandard packaging quality.

Why This Matters

As plumbing professionals, we rely on certified, high-quality products to ensure the safety and longevity of our installations. Using counterfeit adhesives can result in:

• System failures due to poor bonding strength
• Health and safety hazards for end users
• Legal liability for installers and retailers
• Damage to professional reputation

IOPSA stands firmly with Henkel in protecting the integrity of the Tangit brand and the safety of our industry.

How to Identify Genuine Tangit Products

Henkel has provided the following guidelines to help you verify authenticity:

• Correct Spelling: Look for the proper spelling of “Tangit” and “Henkel” on all labels.
• Official Logo: The Tangit logo should be consistent, clear, and professionally printed in black and white.
• Packaging Quality: Authentic products have high-quality packaging with proper seals and no smudging or misprints.
• Authorized Retailers: Purchase only from trusted distributors such as Builders Warehouse, Buko, and Leroy Merlin.

Visual Reference

Henkel has included images of authentic Tangit packaging in their official notice. We urge all members to familiarize themselves with these visuals and share them with staff and customers.

What You Can Do

• Report any suspicious products or sellers to Henkel at info.tangit@henkel.com
• Educate your teams and customers about the risks of counterfeit products
• Refuse to install or resell any product that cannot be verified as genuine

IOPSA’s Commitment

IOPSA is committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism in the plumbing industry. We thank Henkel for their swift action and encourage all members to remain vigilant.

Together, we can protect our industry, our customers, and the brands that support quality workmanship.

For further information or to report counterfeit activity, please contact Henkel South Africa directly:

22 Skeen Boulevard, Bedfordview, Gauteng
+27 (11) 617 2400
info.tangit@henkel.com

Click here to view the formal notice