The National Consumer Commission (NCC) in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality will lead a multidisciplinary team of national government departments and regulators with mandates relevant to consumer protection in a business compliance inspection blitz to various identified hotspots in and around Durban CBD from 11–15 March 2019.
The activities form part of a World Consumer Rights Day build up programme that will culminate into a discussion round table by government and key stakeholders to critically assess the state of consumer protection in South Africa, 10 years after the promulgation and implementation of the Consumer Protection Act.
World Consumer Rights Day is an important day in the lives of consumers, and is commemorated worldwide on 15 March to promote the basic rights of consumers. On this day each year the global consumer movement unite around a common theme to deliver an exciting array of campaigning activities.
South Africa’s consumer protection forum–a network of regulators, provincial consumer protection authorities as well as statutory and voluntary sector specific ombud schemes, have because of identified consumer exploitation trends elected to deviate from the global theme this year.
KwaZulu-Natal has consistently ranked among the top three provinces in respect of national complaint statistics, with Durban and surrounding areas accounting for the bulk of complaints within the province.
Participants in the programme will include amongst others, law enforcement officers, officials from the Departments of Labour and Home Affairs, officials from SARS (customs), ICASA, CIPC (Counterfeit Goods), the Financial Services Conduct Authority, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, as well as the National Credit Regulator.
In addition to inspections the team will host various education and awareness workshops, as well as exhibitions in community halls of Umlazi, Kwamashu, Pinetown and Hammersdale throughout the week.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover activities. Inspections will take place as follows:
Monday 11 March 2019
Area: Durban CBD
Time: 9AM–2PM
Tuesday 12 March 2019
Area: Durban CBD
Time: 9AM–2PM
Wednesday 13 March 2019
Area: Isipingo CBD
Time: 9AM–2PM
Thursday 14 March 2019
Area: Isipingo CBD
Time: 9AM–2PM
Friday 15 March 2019
Part One
Activity: Compliance Inspections
Area: Durban CBD
Time: 8AM–10PM
Part Two
Activity: Walkabout by NCC, partners and CPF members
Area: Durban CBD (from West & Broad Streets to Workshop Shopping Centre)
Time: 10AM–11PM
Part Three
Activity: Discussion Roundtable with stakeholders
Venue: Elangeni Hotel, 63 Snell Parade, North Beach, Durban.
Time: 12PM-3PM
Enquiries: Trevor Hattingh (NCC) Tel: +27 (0) 72 616 0076
Bongani Mthembu (EDTEA) Tel: +27 (0) 82 327 2600
Sohana Singh Tel: +27 (0) 83 309 0207