The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued compliance notices to 37 suppliers in Mpumalanga following inspections that uncovered widespread violations of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) 68 of 2008.
The inspections, conducted between February and June 2025, targeted suppliers of foodstuffs and revealed serious breaches, including the sale of expired and damaged goods, inadequate labeling, and failure to issue proper sales records.
The NCC found that numerous suppliers were selling unsafe products, such as expired, dented, or damaged canned foods, beverages, snacks, jam, sauces, maize meal, peanut butter, and frozen items. Many of these products lacked ingredient lists or had unclear or missing best-before dates, violating consumers’ rights to safe, quality goods under Section 55(2) of the CPA. Additionally, some suppliers denied consumers refunds or exchanges for defective items, contravening Section 56(2) of the Act.
Inspectors also identified non-compliance with sales record requirements. Many suppliers issued receipts only upon request, and these often omitted critical details such as the supplier’s name, CIPC registration number, address, VAT number, product descriptions, quantity, unit price, total cost, and applicable taxes, breaching Section 26(2–3) of the CPA.
Further violations included the failure to display prices on products like canned foods, maize meal, and beverages, hindering consumers’ ability to make informed choices, in contravention of Section 23(3). The NCC also noted the sale of unlabelled or misleadingly labelled goods, violating Sections 24(1) and 24(2–3) of the Act.
The NCC has ordered the suppliers to take immediate action, including removing and destroying all expired and damaged stock, correctly labeling goods, displaying prices clearly, and issuing complete sales records for every transaction. Suppliers have 15 business days to comply, or they face referral to the National Consumer Tribunal, where penalties could include fines of up to R1 million or 10% of their annual turnover.
Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu emphasized the NCC’s commitment to consumer safety: “Our focus on Mpumalanga is part of a broader effort to ensure compliance with the CPA, particularly on food safety. While the formal sector generally complies, these suppliers were found flouting key provisions, putting consumers at risk. We will take further steps if they fail to meet these requirements.”
The NCC’s actions underscore its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and enforce compliance during the Consumer Rights awareness period, with a particular emphasis on food safety across South Africa.
