South Africa and Eswatini Competition Authorities join forces to strengthen enforcement
The Commission and its eSwatini counterpart, the Swaziland Competition Commission, signed a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) to solidify relations and cooperation on competition enforcement policy.
The signing ceremony took place in Manzini, eSwatini. The MoU forms part of multilateral competition initiatives, with particular attention to the fight against international hard core cartels.
The MoU aims to
- Create favourable conditions for the development of bilateral relations;
- Ensure conditions for the effective functioning of markets for goods and services;
- Stress the role of competition in the effective development of the economy; and
- Be based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit.
According to the MoU, cooperation may include the following activities in the field of competition law, enforcement and policy:
- Providing the fullest mutual assistance possible in investigations or enforcement proceedings pertaining to violation of any laws or regulations under the scope of this MoU;
- Sharing experiences in the practical enforcement of competition law;
- Exchanging views on substantive competition policy issues;
- Joint work on the development of scientific and methodological research in the field of competition law enforcement and policy;
- Rendering of technical assistance and exchanges of expert studies;
- The exchange of non-confidential information;
- Staff exchanges; and
- Any other areas of cooperation that may be jointly decided upon by the Parties.
Speaking at the signing ceremony which was addressed by the eSwatini Competition Commission CEO, Thabsile Langa, and the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, Robert Dlamini, Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said: “The government and the people of South Africa and eSwatini have a shared history and long-standing bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation. Just recently, the baton of leadership of SADC moved from eSwatini to South Africa. Our friendship and cooperation is poised to grow stronger as we move forward into the future, for we are not only bound by history but by destiny too”.
He added: “Competition regulation is not the only instrument to drive economic inclusion and change. Other interventions such as industrialisation, infrastructure and investment are equally important to achieve higher levels of growth and competitiveness”, he said.
“The MoU we sign today provides us with the opportunity to strengthen our bilateral cooperation on cross-border mergers and cartel enforcement. Both parties recognise the cross-border nature of business between the two countries and indeed, in the neighbourhood.
“As chair of African Competition Forum (ACF) and the SADC Competition and Consumer Law and Consumer Policy Committee (CCOPOLC), we appreciate the crucial role and contribution of eSwatini in the development of a competition law and policy regime for the region. Our common interests are better served if we continue to emphasise the ‘developing country perspective’ on competition issues at regional and international multilateral platforms”, he said.
South Africa has signed similar agreements with other African competition authorities including the Fair Trading Commission of the Republic of Seychelles, Namibian Competition Commission, Competition Authority of Kenya, and Competition Commission of Mauritius. The Commission has also signed an agreement with SADC cooperation in the field of competition policy and law enforcement.
“The signing of the MOU marks a significant milestone in our bilateral relations as competition authorities. From now on, the two authorities will use the opportunity presented by this MOU to ensure that we succeed in making our economies competitive and inclusive for all”.
