Transcript National Consumer Commission

THE NATIONAL CONSUMER COMMISSION NOW
AND INTO THE FUTURE
1
NCC
 MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY DR ROB
DAVIES;
 DEPUTY MINISTER Me THABETHE
 DIRECTOR GENERAL DTI NTATE OCTOBER
 DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL Me NTULI
 ALL CEO’s , CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
 DIGNITARIES AND ALL PRESENT AND ALL
PROTOCOL OBSERVED
 DUMELANG BAGAYESO
2
NCC
 Today is A PROUD DAY FOR US as the National
Consumer Commission for WE ARE AT THE DOOR
STEP OF A MAJOR CONSUMER REVOLUTION
3
NCC
 This REVOLUTION is being ushered in by the
promulgation and coming into operation of the
Consumer Protection Act on the 01 APRIL 2011;
 This is an Act that for the first time protects
CONSUMER RIGHTS IN AN UNCOMPROMISING
MANNER IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN LANDSCAPE.
4
NCC
 The CPA also creates :
 Establishes the NATIONAL CONSUMER
COMMISSION to ensure enforcement and protections
of rights espoused therein;
 The much needed balance in the MARKET PLACE BY
BALANCING BARGAINING POWER BETWEEN
CONSUMERS AND BUSINESS;
 Provides a MECHANISM FOR REDRESS FOR
CONSUMERS.
5
OUTLINE
 During my speech today i will deal with two basic
issues:
 Systems put in place in anticipation of the launch;
 Key initiative to be undertaken by the commission going
forward especially in the next financial year.
6
ACTIVITIES TO DATE
1 PROVINCIAL VISITS
 Worked tirelessly
 Provincial visits
 Visited all nine provinces
 Some of the provinces we had the pleasure of meeting members of
their consumer tribunals or Courts
 We explored resource availability specifically




Rank of official heading the office
Systems and turn around times with respect to dispute resolution
IT systems
Areas of co – operation
 Recommendation to the Minster to be discussed with his the MEC’s of
the different provinces
 Synchronising the systems so that same quality of service irrespective
of complain is lodged
7
ACTIVITIES TO DATE
2 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING – MOU’s
 Visited strategic alliance partners to formulate strategies on
how to work together and thus better discharge our
mandate
 SABS;
 NCRS;
 ICASA etc
 To date have concluded MOU WITH THE SABS
 Very important;
 We will be using them through their labs to test products;
 This allows us to commence with the work at hand from day
one;
 Thank SABS CEO and team for making this happen
8
ACTIVITIES TO DATE
3 PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS
3.1 Imbizos
 Imbizos for five of the nine provinces
 Three pre 01 April and balance post 01 April
 Target traditional leaders and rural communities
 Large amount of abuse in rural communities
 Identified as one of the class of vulnerable consumers in terms of the
CPA
 NGO groups in the province also targeted
 Prominent and important role in Consumer Protection arena
 Report on status of NGO’s
 CONFIGURATIONS OF NGO’s
 Accreditation of NGO’S as Consumer Protection Groups
9
ACTIVITIES TO DATE
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS-II
3.3 Workshops
 Industry
 Professional associations
 Chambers of commerce
 MEDIA
 NGO’S

10
ACTIVTIES TO DATE
PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS-III
3.3
MUNICIPALITIES
 Major Municipalities;
 Speak about compliance;
 Ensure properly educated and prepared;
 Government must lead by example.
11
PUBLICATION OF KEY DOCUMENTS
 Guidelines on complaints handling and investigation;
 Guidelines on Accreditation of ombud schemes;
 Guidelines on Accreditation of ADR agents;
 Terms of reference with respect to establishment of the
OPT – OUT Register.
 STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2011- 2014
12
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
4
NCC APPOACH
4.1
PROACTIVE
4.2
REACTIVE
13
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
 THEME FOR THE NCC
 THEME TO GUIDE ACTIVITIES ESPECIALLY PUBLIC
AWARENESS
 THEME FOR 2011- 2012
 NCC AND UPLIFTMENT OF THE RURAL
CONSUMER
14
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
4.1
4.1.1
PROACTIVE
Identify three sectors
 Mandate for NCC in terms of the CPA is broad
 Need to address on bit at a time
4.1.2
to
Felt that need to annually identify three sectors
investigate
Assess compliance with the CPA
Assess practises in the industry in question
Publish report on identified transgressions
Invite consumers who have been victims of the said practises
to lodge complaints with the NCC
 Ensure corrective measures to prevent future transgressions –
finalise compliance orders or consent orders




15
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
4.1.3 The three industries identified for
investigation by the NCC for the 2011/12
financial year are :

ICT SECTOR;

MANUFACTURING AND RETAIL SECTOR;

MOTOR SECTOR;

MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICALS SECTOR.
16
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
4.1.2
Standing committees
4.1.2.1 Purpose


Continuous feed into the work of the NCC
Keep abreast with the needs of consumers and challenges of industry

4.1.2.2
Composition




Consumer groups/NGO
NCC
Industry
Regulators where interested

4.1.2.3 Initial standing committees



Vulnerable consumers
Industry
Provincial consumer protection authorities
17
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
 4.1.3
Imbizo’s
QWAQWA IMBIZO is the first of many to be held in the
different provinces;
 Target traditional leaders;
 Their rural communities;
 And Local Government Councillors.
SPEAK TO RURAL COMMUNTIES BOUT







The CPA;
General transgressions;
Sale of expired goods;
Over priced goods;
Unscrupulous trader;
Bad quality service etc
18
WAYFORWARD – 2011/12
 4.2 REACTIVE
 4.2.1 PUBLISHED GUDELINES ON
COMPLAINTS HANDLING AND
INVESTIGATIONS;
4.2.2
COMMIT TO TURN AROUND TIMES


ADR – SIX WEEKS
INVESTIGATIONS – SIX MONTHS

19
NCC
 PAMBILI NAMA CONSUMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 PILI LE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT!!!!!!!!
20
NCC
 THANK YOU
 KE YA LEBOHA
 NGI YA BONGA
21