The authority earlier this month ruled against one Prof MK Numba after a complaint by motorist David Kaplan, who was given Numba's leaflet on a road bridge in Johannesburg.
The advert, under the heading Introductory to Masai Gel for Men, promised lost loves would be brought back, spells removed, stolen property recovered and luck brought to bear on games like the Lotto. The Masai Root allegedly helped with weight loss and the Masai Remedy was said to enlarge breasts and penises.
Kaplan complained the claims made were not possible and were “conning the weak of society”.
Numba argued in his defence that “it is a spiritual practice that combines physical resources and the meta-physical energy of the universe”. He agreed to withdraw the advert while he collected evidence to prove the claims.
In its December 4 ruling the authority said although no date had been given to furnish the data, it was forced eventually to notify Numba it would have to rule without the required proof as it could not wait indefinitely.
The authority said advertisers were required to keep documentation to substantiate claims that could be objectively verified.
“Claims such as increasing of penis sizes and decreasing and increasing of breast sizes are such examples, and are clearly capable of scientific verification,” it said. “The respondent did not submit any verification from an independent, credible expert” to verify the claims, it said.
The authority ruled that the advertisements were to be withdrawn immediately and not used in their current form.
Source: Business Day
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