Free State consumer affairs court sittings are now on the roll
Following the swearing in and affirmation of office to 10 newly appointed consumer affairs court officials, the Free State Consumer Protection Office court hearings are now in full swing, adjudicating on complaints of unsatisfied consumers.
The court officials were sworn in by MEC for Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Dr. Benny Malakoane during the 2017 World Consumer Rights Day celebration in Kroonstad in March.
Since the inauguration of the court officials, 10 cases have been listened to with the three being successful in favour of the complainants and seven postponed because of the non-service (the sheriff of court did not find the company when they went to deliver a summon) and defendants were not available to attend the court hearing.
The services at the Consumer Protection Office are speedy, confidential and free of charge. Consumer Affairs court sittings rotate in different districts of the province in an effort to bring the service closer to the people and to reach as many people as possible.
Government is doing all in its power to educate consumers about their rights. For this year, three consumer education workshops will be conducted per month in different towns of the Free State in order to address the problems that communities have which they may not have had an opportunity to bring to the Consumer Protector.
Consumers can contact the Consumer Protection Office at:
Tel: 051 400 9656/ 4857/ 4854/ 4855/ 9612/ 4856/ 9611
Fax: 086 514 6112
E-mail: radikelt@detea.fs.gov.za
