Faulty Lion matches are likely fake or because of alien tree laws - but we found several duds
Lion Safety Matches says if your matches snap, burn your fingers too quickly, or send a tiny glowing ember shooting across the room, it's likely because you've bought a counterfeit box - or haven't picked up a Lion match in 20 years since they were forced to use weaker wood.
For a product that costs less than R1 a box, counterfeit matches are a surprisingly common problem in South Africa. And if criminals are going to imitate a South African match brand, they only have one choice. That's because Lion is the only matchmaker left in the country. Its 117-year history means it has penetrated South African popular culture and made its way onto t-shirts, baby grows, and even briefs.