protection awareness campaign
10 February 2009
The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), through the Consumer and
Corporate Regulation Division (CCRD), will embark on a national consumer
protection awareness campaign throughout the provinces. The campaign, which is
to kick-off next week Monday, is intended to educate and create awareness among
members of the public about the impact and consequences of the 2007 Consumer
Protection Bill. The bill has been passed by Parliament and is awaiting
President Kgalema Motlantheâs signature before becoming an Act.
The campaign will be rolled-out in the form of an industrial theatre, with
performers acting out different scenarios of unethical business practices.
These scenarios will depict real-life situations that consumers are likely to
experience at the hands of unscrupulous service providers, and how to avoid
falling into the debt trap amidst the global economic slowdown. Officials from
the consumer division of the dti will distribute information leaflets and
educate those in attendance about issues related to their consumer rights and
responsibilities.
According to the Deputy Director-General of the dtiâs CCRD, Zodwa Ntuli, the
overall aim of the Consumer Protection Bill is to ensure fair, competitive and
responsible markets that work well for consumers and promote ethical business
practices.
âThe bill will also ensure that consumers are able to make well-informed
buying decisions and access a wide range of products and services based on
honest and fair marketing. Consumers drive competitiveness and economic growth.
Well-informed consumers stimulate innovation, better quality product and
service, and competitive prices,â says Ntuli.
Ntuli added that as the department embarks on a campaign to educate
consumers about the rights afforded by the bill, it will also be important that
awareness is equally raised on the responsibilities of consumers in ensuring
the effective implementation of the bill.
The bill, amongst other objectives, seeks to promote consumer activism by
making provision for the accreditation of consumer groups that would be tasked
with lodging complaints on behalf of consumers, as well as making available
possible financial support for activities such as consumer advice, education,
publications, research and alternative dispute resolution through mediation or
conciliation.
In addition, the bill gives rise to the establishment of the National
Consumer Commission, a body assigned to investigate consumer complaints.
The nation-wide campaign schedule is as follows:
Province: Limpopo
Date: 16 to 19 February 2009
Province: North-West
Date: 26 to 28 February 2009
Province: Northern Cape
Date: 2 to 4 March 2009
Province: Free State
Date: 9 to 11 March 2009
Province: Gauteng
Date: 16 to 20 March 2009
Province: Western Cape
Date: 23 to 25 March 2009
Province: Eastern Cape
Date: 26 to 28 March 2009
Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Date: 30 March to 1 April 2009
Province: Mpumalanga
Date: 2 to 3 April 2009
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 073 522 6801
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Lillian Mofokeng
Tel: 012 394 1775
Cell: 082 888 8362
E-mail: LMofokeng@thedti.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
10 February 2009
