The Competition Commission carried out a search-and-seizure operation at the premises of nine fresh-produce market agents. According to the commission, SA has about 30 fresh-produce market agents, with about 80% of this market controlled by the biggest six players.

More looting of Joburg ratepayers’ money has been revealed, this time at the Johannesburg Fresh Produce Market, where fraud totalling R7.5 million has been uncovered.

The so-called trio crimes – carjackings, robbery at businesses and in the homes of South Africans – continues to rise, crime statistics for the first three quarters of the 2016/17 financial year, presented by police in Parliament, showed.

A Fin24 user almost fell prey to a scam targeting his small business. The local businessman who specialises in the sale and installation of solar panels, was alerted when payment for goods by the scamster, who posed as customer, was not cleared by his bank.

At the moment, most banks in South Africa can access the Home Affairs National Identification System (HANIS) to confirm the identity of clients through biometric fingerprint matching.

Italian confectionery group Ferrero said it has launched an investigation into allegations that Romanian children as young as six were making toys for its Kinder chocolate eggs.

Once again, South Africa is entering the busy festive shopping season ahead of the annual Christmas and New Year holiday period. The Crime Risk Initiative (CRI) of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA) takes this opportunity to advise both shop and mall owners, as well as consumers, to be vigilant in light of the potential risk of criminal activity.

An investigation into a criminal syndicate which has allegedly infiltrated all mobile operators in South Africa is underway. The Rapport newspaper recently reported that a criminal syndicate has infiltrated all mobile operators in South Africa, and can gain access to any mobile phone to commit crimes.

Speaking at a conference in Cape Town Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said the Commission is concerned businesses in the food sector are going to abuse drought-related rising prices. He hopes that such prices will go down when the drought fully abates.