The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a stern warning to suppliers against inflating the prices of essential items as the country remains under Disaster Management regulations.
This comes amid reports of possible food shortages following the widespread looting in Gauteng and Kwazulu Natal last week.
The NCC says the regulations were published in the Government Gazette in March last year and are still in place to protect consumers against unfair, unreasonable or unjust pricing.
According to the Gazette, essential items include toilet paper; hand sanitiser; face masks; surgical gloves and masks, disinfectant wipes; antiseptic liquids; all-purpose cleaners; baby formula; disposable nappies; bleach, cooking oils; wheat flour, rice; maize meal; pasta; sugar; long-life milk; canned and frozen vegetables; canned and frozen or fresh meat; chicken or fish; and bottled water.
Acting Consumer Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza, said it was unreasonable and unfair for suppliers to take advantage of the State of National Disaster by unfairly increasing the prices of goods without any economic justification.
She said a supplier or person contravening these Regulations could be fined up to a million rand, a fine of up to 10% of a firm’s annual turnover, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months.
Mabuza encouraged consumers to monitor the market and report any suspicious, unfair price increases of essential goods and services.
