The National Consumer Tribunal (Tribunal) has confirmed a settlement agreement entered into between the National Consumer Commission (NCC) and We Buy Cars (Pty) Ltd (WBC), following constructive engagement between the parties.

The NCC referred the settlement agreement to the Tribunal on 3 December 2025, and after due consideration, the Tribunal confirmed the settlement agreement on 19 December 2025, thereby making it a consent order in terms of Section 74(1) of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).

In terms of the settlement, WBC has agreed to the following in order to strengthen consumer protection and enhance service delivery:

• Pay an administrative fine of R2 500 000 (two million, five hundred thousand Rands);
• Refund a total sum of R3 419 971, 83 (three million, four hundred and nineteen thousand, nine hundred and seventy-one Rand and eighty-three Cents) to 31 (thirty-one) affected consumers;
• Revision of the terms and conditions to align with the CPA;
• Commitment to a Consumer Awareness Programme to enhance consumer education concerning the purchasing of pre-owned motor vehicles, consumers’ rights and obligations, as well as the supplier’s rights and obligations under the CPA; and
• Create 300 job opportunities at various levels across WBC over a period of 5 (five) years, over and above the current planned employment opportunities, to enhance customer service capacity and overall consumer experience.

In the last three years, the NCC received complaints from consumers complaining that WBC failed to provide remedies to consumers based on sale agreements signed between the supplier and the consumers. The NCC formed a reasonable suspicion that WBC’s terms and conditions, particularly in relation to warranty and terms of sale, contravened several provisions of the CPA. The NCC investigated the complaints lodged by the consumers and found that the terms and conditions of the sale agreements contravened the CPA.

In welcoming the consent order as granted by the Tribunal, Acting Commissioner, Mr. Hardin Ratshisusu, said, “This settlement concludes investigations against We Buy Cars on contraventions of the CPA.  We Buy Cars, amongst other commitments, has agreed to review and amend terms and conditions to ensure full compliance with the CPA, a measure that will ensure consumer rights are fully protected. Consumers that were affected by the conduct will, as part of this settlement, receive redress.”

ENDS

Issued by: National Consumer Commission (NCC)

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