The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued over 62 (sixty-two) compliance notices to non-compliant suppliers across multiple provinces in South Africa following an extensive programme of inspections and investigations conducted between July 2025 and March 2026.

The first phase of inspections commenced in July 2025 and concluded in November 2025, resulting in 35 compliance notices, while the second phase of intensified enforcement from 20 January 2026 to March 2026 led to additional notices across sectors, including retail, clothing, electronics, food, furniture, hardware, and various service industries.

The inspections, carried out in Gauteng, Limpopo, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, uncovered widespread contraventions of the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008 (CPA), including violations of sections 20, 23, 24, 26, 48, 51, 54, 55, and 56. Non-compliant items and services identified ranged from cellular devices, clothing and footwear, furniture, household goods, electrical and non-electrical appliances such as paraffin stoves and paraffin products, to food items including canned food, unlabelled goods, and unbranded sweets, as well as hardware supplies and service-related offerings operating under unfair contractual terms.

In many instances, suppliers failed to display clear pricing, provided inadequate or misleading product information, sold unsafe or poor-quality goods, denied consumers the right to return defective or unsuitable products, and failed to maintain proper sales records. Under section 100 of the CPA, all affected suppliers have been directed to cease prohibited conduct, rectify the identified contraventions, and implement corrective measures within prescribed timeframes; failing which, the matter may be referred to the National Consumer Tribunal for further enforcement action, including the imposition of administrative fines.

Acting Commissioner, Hardin Ratshisusu has expressed concern on non-compliance with the CPA:  “The scale and nature of non-compliance identified during these inspections is concerning. The NCC will not hesitate to take firm enforcement action against businesses that continue to disregard the provisions of the CPA. Suppliers are urged to review their practices and ensure full compliance, while consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant and report unfair business conduct.”

Ends  

Issued by Phetho Ntaba (Spokesperson):

On behalf of the

National Consumer Commission (NCC)

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