‘Tis the season to be merry but the National Consumer Commission (NCC) is using this time to warn consumers of certain non-compliant traders in 2024. As you know, the story of child deaths through poisoning at spaza shops dominated the headlines last month. So much so that President Ramaphosa addressed the country and even put new legislative measures in places.
In line with this process of spaza shop operators having to register with government, the NCC has issued warnings to shoppers over non-compliant traders in 2024. As well as suppliers who are untraceable and therefore deemed fraudulent, reports The Citizen.
NON-COMPLIANT TRADERS IN 2024
NCC spokesperson Phetho Ndaba has announced a list of non-compliant traders in 2024. These operators mainly contravened section 24 of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) about labelling of goods and accurate listing of ingredients on their packaging. These findings came from impromptu market monitoring inspections. Take note of the following non-compliant traders in 2024 and the items in question:
- Fairfield Meat Express: Failed to label Dhanya flavoured burgers, Grabouw Boerewors, Burgers (Bonanza Peppers), Texan steaks, soup bones, beef rashers, Faela Rice Mix/Akni Rice Mix/Breyani Rice Mix, spicy wings Worcester/Jalapeno Marrakens/Peri Peri and Chilli Cheese Russians.
- Dadas Nutritious Foods and Spices: Failed to label biltong spicy beef Snaptix, mild beef biltong, spice chicken biltong, beef droëwors, potjiekos spice, biltong spice and chicken spice.
- Bag It: Failed to label Spicy Chicken Burgers, Mom’s Choice Chakalaka Braaiwors and Mama’s Choice Real Burger.
- Planet Sweets: Failed to label Biscuits with Chocolate Centre, cured mango, plain chips Meeboz, Rive butter biscuits and dried fruit lollies.
- Beadica 381 (Pty) Ltd (trading as Fish for Africa): Failed to label salmon off-cuts, butterfish cuts, smoked kippers, calamari and fish cakes.
- Die Visfabriek: Failed to label hash browns (300g).
- Amigos Fisheries: Failed to label minced hake and salted dried fish.
- Super Spar: Failed to label chicken flatties, Sundowners (chicken), boneless Texan steak, Holland steak, Mzansi Brainworks, Oum Freedy’s Legacy boerewors, Party Brainworks and Ootids boerewors.
- Country Glam: Delivered unsafe vegetables.
- Bernice Warwick and Co: Untreated firewood that posed a risk to the consumer instead of the fireproof treated ash wood.
FAILURE TO LABEL CORRECTLY
Phetho Ndaba of the NCC reminds non-compliant traders in 2024 that failure to accurately label goods contravenes section 24 of the CPA. Plus, the trade description must include the country of origin and any other prescribed information. Moreover, the NCC continues to prioritise unsafe foodstuffs, where suppliers don’t comply with the provisions of the CPA.
Furthermore, it is concerned about the high number of suppliers that seem to have either disappeared or cannot be traced at their addresses listed on the sales records or websites. The concern is these fraudulent companies receive orders, take consumers’ money and never deliver the goods or services as anticipated. These untraceable traders are:
- Financial service: Pol Empire, Bambana Trading, Turbet Trading and JR Containers & Trading.
- Baby clothes: Wiegekind Boutique.
- Car dealers and car parts: Auto Heaven Spares, Vost Auto Spares, Future Auto Investment, WBT Auto, Stephen Auto Motors, Online Car Parts, ACS Pre-Owned Cars, Best Cars JHB, FDS Engineering Tractors, Fat Boy Auto, Pro Quick Motors, Motor Brokers, NMU Motors and GPO Crew.
- Tourism: Hippo Pod Hotel.
- Business listings: Trudon/Yellow Pages, White Pages, White Pages Online, Business Entries, Huge Telecom, SA Provincial Directory, Teledialkom, Telecom and White Pages Directory.
- Computer services: Nyasa Computers.
- Tools: Apex Mechanical Tools.
- Telecommunications: Intellicel.
- Clothing: Classic Design Factory Shop and The Denim Store SA.
- Hardware: The Easternwest Hardware.
- Inverters and lithium batteries: EGadgets SA.
- Drilling services: J Alderson Drilling.
HAVE YOU DEALT WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE TRADERS?
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