The Department of Trade and Industry will host a conference on the consumer protection law at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng Province, on 4 to 5 March 2010. The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Maria Ntuli, will deliver a keynote address at the conference that will take place at the Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng from 4 to 5 February 2010. The theme of the conference is: “Changing the Consumer Protection Landscape in South Africa”.
The new Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008, was signed into law by the President in April 2009. This act changes the landscape of consumer protection in South Africa in a manner that aims to enhance consumer confidence in the South African market and businesses. The aim is to ensure fair, competitive and responsible markets that work well for consumers and promote ethical business practices.
“This act puts South Africa on the map as one of the rights based consumer protectors in the world. For effective implementation, the act encourages cooperation between government agencies, community structures, traditional leaders and non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Participants will hear views of representatives from, among others, business, union movement and non-governmental organisations on the various aspects of the act, including product quality, standard terms and conditions, refunds and returns of goods,” says Zodwa Ntuli, the Deputy Director-General of Consumer and Corporate and Regulation Division at the Department of Trade and Industry.
The act further seeks to act as a legal framework for:
* maintaining a fair, accessible and efficient marketplace for consumers
* reducing the disadvantages experienced in accessing goods or services by vulnerable consumers
* encouraging responsible consumer behaviour
* promoting consumer empowerment and providing an efficient system of redress for consumers
“The act will be implemented in two phases to afford businesses, and government arms such as municipalities, reasonable time to align their trading practices and systems for compliance with the new act when it comes into effect in October 2010. Most businesses have already started to do this and through conferences like these, we hope to assist more entities in this regard. ” adds Zodwa Ntuli.
For more information, contact:
Kgothatso Chuene
Tel: 012 394 1681
Cell: 072 571 9885
E-mail: KChuene@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
26 February 2010
