With the growth of economies across Africa, competition law has remained one of the key drivers for effective market participation, consumer protection and fair business practices...
Trustees and directors of community housing schemes cannot simply make up new rules by themselves...
The National Consumer Tribunal (NCT) has fined Up Money (PTY) Ltd an administrative fine of R1 million for conducting a pyramid scheme and contravening Section 43 (2) of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA)...
Regulators with consumer protection mandate are being reminded to continue with their efforts to put a spotlight on consumer rights...
The signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with Pick n Pay confirms that the retailer has capped its gross profit margin for ginger and garlic...
Filum Ho, CEO of Autoboys, lists five essential things owners of new cars need to know about the updated guidelines for the automotive aftermarket...
Filum Ho 22 Feb 2021
The NCC has launched an investigation into allegations of price gouging relating to garlic and ginger...
Three broad themes emerging in South Africa in 2021, which will require extensive input from the legal profession, are: changes to the economy and regulation prompted by Covid-19; moves by government and the private sector to stimulate economic recovery; and a greater focus on corporate responsibility and consumer protection...
Jonathan Veeran, Nozipho Mngomezulu and Burton Phillips 19 Jan 2021
Monika Iuel has been appointed as the new chief marketing officer at Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape...
Evan-Lee Courie 18 Jan 2021
In the midst of the planetary emergency of climate change, Covid-19 is testing modern civilisation's preparedness for shocks, across the spheres of finance, economics and technology; global, national and regional governance; global and population health; social cohesion and food security. This is according to Baker McKenzie's new report, Unprecedented: Converging Crises...
Wildu du Plessis 4 Jan 2021
As the short-term rental market begins to pick up, landlords and tenants alike must take steps to protect themselves while the effects of Covid-19 and an unstable economy continue to disrupt the industry...
The Direct Marketing Association of SA (DMASA) reminds consumers of their legislative right to be added to Do Not Contact (DNC) databases...
Each year, defective everyday products such as smart phones, household appliances, cars, baby cribs and toys cause disease, injury and death...
Concern has been growing about safety issues related to hand sanitisers, and South Africa has been behind the curve in putting in place measures to ensure products are safe...
Lise Korsten 21 Oct 2020
The recent protest occupation of a Camps Bay guesthouse in Cape Town has sparked serious concerns for short-term accommodation landlords...
The Covid-19 pandemic has had far-reaching and irrevocable consequences for countless industries in South Africa. The financial services sector - and the way it is regulated - is no exception...
Caroline da Silva, Brandon Topham & Lyndwill Clarke 1 Oct 2020
Selling your home yourself and keeping the commission in your pocket instead of paying it to an estate agent may sound like a good idea, especially in a busy market, but you should be aware of the dangers before you decide on this approach...
Livia Dyer, partner, and Nadine Mather, senior associate, Bowmans explain how PoPIA will impact and potentially change, the parameters of direct marketing...
Livia Dyer and Nadine Mather 15 Sep 2020
Greg Brown, divisional director: legal information and compliance at LexisNexis South Africa, sums up the Covid-19 workplace obligations below..
Issued by LexisNexis 21 Aug 2020
Cambridge Food Jozini has agreed to reduce its gross profit margin on the 25kg top white maize meal for the duration of the state of the national disaster, and will donate essential goods...
New technologies are providing marketers with the ability to receive sensory feedback, which could be used to interpret emotional responses to marketing stimuli. Such systems broadly fall into private and public systems, both of which influence their legal interpretation...
Ashlin Perumall 24 Jul 2020
With the repo rate currently sitting at an unprecedented low, buyers and investors are caught between buying off-plan vs. buying an existing property...
The Competition Commission said that of the 1,600 complaints received under the excessive pricing and consumer protection regulations by the end of June, 19% related to basic food products...
The Competition Tribunal has confirmed three consent agreements relating to Covid-19 excessive pricing complaints...
"E-commerce's rise, especially now, reinforces the point that consumer trust and legitimacy of online retailers are paramount, especially in an era of heightened risk and uncertainty," says Bidorbuy CEO Craig Lubbe...
Almost every time you browse a website, click the "accept" icon or download software, you are concluding an online contract ? a non-negotiated contract such as the terms and conditions regulating the use of websites or the privacy policies of online suppliers...
Dr Alec Basson 6 Jul 2020
The Competition Tribunal has been clamping down on companies that have been hiking prices of sanitisers and masks since the Covid-19 outbreak...
The Covid-19 crisis and the resulting lockdowns has impacted many financially. Some have been placed on unpaid leave, while others have been informed of a reduction in salary or completely lost all income...
In light of the uncertainty around when borders will reopen and continued restraint even once travel for tourism is permitted, many owners of homestay accommodation (such as Airbnb listings) are considering securing longer leases for their properties....
Chelsea Viljoen 30 Jun 2020
Being a travel advisor has not been the most lucrative enterprise in 2020, but that doesn't mean the profession has become obsolete. On the contrary, it has never been more pertinent.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) is calling for comments on the discussion document relating to the publication of the Franchise Association of South Africa Industry Code...
While spending many hours, days and weeks at home during the lockdown, the way we socialise and enjoy entertainment has significantly changed...
James Tagg 11 Jun 2020
Supply chains, food and nutrition security, as well as current and future production functions, have been negatively impacted by a host of factors related to the Covid-19 crisis...
Professor Njuguna S. Ndung'u 11 Jun 2020
Even though it might not feel like it when every day is some combination of a nightmare written by Franz Kafka and George Orwell, there will come a time when Covid-19 is behind us and more of us realise that it's safe to fly again...
Eugene Yiga 10 Jun 2020
There seems to be a new Nando's in town - or at least a wannabe Nando's. I'm not talking about flame-grilled chicken icons, though Nando's is in that particular area. The fast food group has for going on two decades now, been king of the heap when it comes to producing funny, gag-filled advertising...
Brendan Seery 9 Jun 2020
The concept of open banking is forcing banks to rethink financial services as it's understood today. Realising that this is the new frontier, the FSCA is far advanced in its research into open banking...
Sindiswa Makhubalo 3 Jun 2020
Following complaints from the public, an investigation by the Competition Commission has found Caprichem engaging in excessive pricing of hand sanitiser...
The Competition Commission has referred two major suppliers to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution for allegedly charging excessive prices on face masks...
A pharmacy based in KwaZulu-Natal has admitted to excessive pricing of face masks in a consent agreement with the Competition Commission...
Local company Matus has agreed to pay an administrative penalty of R5.9m after it admitted to inflation of its gross profit margins with regards to essential hygiene products...
Several regulations have been gazetted to protect consumers during the State of National Disaster. One such regulation relates to the prohibition of the excessive pricing of essential goods and services. Essential goods include items such as toilet paper, hand sanitiser and disinfectant cleaners, to name a few...
Bobedi Seleke 24 Apr 2020
South Africa's financial regulators launched the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group (IFWG) Innovation Hub...
For hotel owners and operators already facing nosedives in revenue, the corresponding guest costs, whether over a daily, weekly or monthly basis, can be significant. So who's picking up the tab resulting from these quarantines, and what can hotel owners and operators do...
Jonathan Lynch 8 Apr 2020
South Africa's financial regulators have launched the Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group (IFWG) Innovation Hub in response to changes in the financial sector driven by fintech and to promote responsible innovation...
The National Consumer Commission, working jointly with the Competition Commission, has launched an investigation into allegations of excessive price hikes by 30 retailers from various provinces in the country...
Gareth Grobler is a digital currency entrepreneur and founded the cryptocurrency exchange iCE3X in 2013. He is a founding member of the UK Digital Currency Association...
Government has imposed regulations that will limit unjustified price hikes and product stockpiling, to protect consumers, as the number of Covid-19 pandemic cases rise to 150...
March is Human Rights Month and has also been adopted as a Consumer Rights Month in South Africa. In addition, 15 March has been declared World Consumer Rights Day...