The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has taken significant action against consumer rights violations by issuing 45 compliance notices to suppliers across South Africa.
It is revealed that this enforcement follows extensive inspections aimed at ensuring adherence to the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), the cornerstone legislation safeguarding consumers against substandard goods and unsafe practices.
The commission reveals that recent inspections uncovered a series of deeply concerning practices, including suppliers selling expired and spoilt food items.
It is also detailed that some of the findings included an assortment of dairy products, meat items, maize meal, and eggs, as well as various snacks and noodles that not only passed their expiration dates but, in some instances, had no date markings at all.
In addition to selling expired goods, many suppliers were found to be offering foodstuffs, such as wors and chicken pieces, without proper labels, breaching Section 24 of the CPA, which requires accurate and truthful advertising of products. Labels must convey truthful information about the goods sold, affording consumers the essential information needed to make safe purchases.
Heightened concerns were also raised regarding inadequate pricing transparency, particularly prevalent in rural and peri-urban areas, where essential goods, including noodles and canned soups, were displayed without visible pricing.
“Food safety remains our top priority. This enforcement is part of targeted action to stem the sale of unsafe products to unsuspecting consumers. The NCC will continue collaboration with other regulators to ensure compliance with the CPA and related legislation,” stated NCC’s Acting Commissioner, Hardin Ratshisusu, highlighting the ongoing commitment to protecting consumer rights.
Ratshisusu says further investigation revealed suppliers' non-compliance with Section 26(2-3) of the CPA, where proper sales records or receipts were not provided to consumers for every transaction. The CPA necessitates that these records include vital information such as the supplier’s name and address, product descriptions, and total amounts paid, ensuring transparency in consumer transactions.
In response to these alarming findings, affected suppliers have been ordered to take immediate corrective action. This includes the removal and destruction of non-compliant goods, accurate product labelling in accordance with the CPA, visible pricing for all products, and the issuance of detailed sales records for every transaction.
The commission further highlights that failure to comply with the terms specified in the compliance notices could lead suppliers to face serious repercussions, including referral to the National Consumer Tribunal.
Saturday Star