By: Siphesihle Buthelezi - MSN

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has uncovered shocking levels of non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) in KwaZulu-Natal, revealing retailers selling expired food, mislabelled products, and failing to display prices.

The commission conducted inspections in Pinetown, Pietermaritzburg, Durban CBD, Springfield, Inanda, uMlazi, and Westville, working with the South African Police Services, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), and other enforcement agencies.

“Failure to label the goods or labelling goods in a foreign language deprives consumers of their right to information, thus making it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions,” said Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu.

Other violations included suppliers storing food for human consumption with animal feed in the same refrigerator. The NCC said this contravenes Section 55 of the CPA, which guarantees consumers the right to goods of good quality and safe for use.

Inspectors also found that some retailers did not display prices, contravening Section 23(3) of the Act. “This denies consumers their right to choose a supplier,” the NCC said, noting that prices must be displayed and expressed in South African currency.

The commission further highlighted problems with sales records. While suppliers generally issued receipts, many failed to include key details such as business names, VAT numbers, and unit prices, while others contained terms and conditions described as “unfair to the consumers (no exchange).”

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