Consumer watchdog for E Cape
Oscar vows to crack down on sales of food that is stale
Economic development, environmental affairs and tourism MEC Oscar Mabuyane has taken a hard stance on spaza shop owners who sell stale food, threatening to close their doors permanently.
This was after the Bhisho legislature passed the provincial Consumer Protection Bill on Tuesday. He said once it was signed into law it would ensure protection of consumer rights in line with the National Credit Act, the consumer protection authority and the consumer tribunal.
It would establish an Eastern Cape consumer protector and tribunal whose composition and powers were geared towards “protection of consumers from retailers and sellers that do not respect the rights of consumers”.
The portfolio committee had reported that some public inputs indicated some with spaza shops sold stale food, Mabuyane stated.
“This is highly unacceptable and we should support all efforts meant to punish such shop owners, whether they are owned by foreign or local individuals, through fines and possible closure.”
Mabuyane said action against the sale of stale food would require a joint effort with the department of safety and liaison “to ensure shops that are closed are not reopened, as we have seen with liquor trading stores”.
Municipal bylaws would have to be strengthened to ensure that they complement the consumer law, he added.
The DA poked holes in the bill, saying it was fundamentally flawed. MPL Andrew Whitfield said certain aspects needed urgent correction.
“It appears to give unprecedented powers to the economic development, environmental affairs and tourism HoD with respect to the appointment of inspectors. This is not aligned to the national act, may give rise to conflict of interest and, almost certainly, will undermine the authority of the consumer protector.” He added that the head of the department was not necessarily qualified to make such appointments, so they may be unsuitable.
Mabuyane said a report in the Dispatch in October about police impounding stolen vehicles showed that consumers needed to make informed decisions before they purchase goods.
“This should be the case irrespective of the socioeconomic conditions of our people.
“We welcome the inputs by the committee that the department needs to strengthen and improve its monitoring capacity for registered shops owned by foreign nationals.”
The Daily Dispatch reported that police seized hundreds of illegally imported cars from allegedly unsuspecting buyers who fell victim to a scam.