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Competition Policy News

Cesa shines on international stage

By: Mamaili Mamaila 15th November 2019 Voluntary association Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) was one of the big winners at the 2019 International Federation of Consulting Engineers (Fidic) Member Association (MA) Excellence Awards. →

Competition Commission appoints M&A manager

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th November 2019 The Competition Commission has appointed Tamara Paremoer divisional manager of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), effective November 1. She was acting divisional manager from July. →

Monopoly, legislation hinder Italian SME growth and competition

By: Cameron Mackay 11th October 2019 The tendency of certain local markets to become monopolised and dominated by single entities presents challenges for Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) aiming to establish themselves in the South African market, says Italian-South African Chamber of Trade and Industries trade... →

Market inquiry suggests supply side regulator, tariff setting needed in health sector

By: Marleny Arnoldi 30th September 2019 The Competition Commission on Monday released the long-awaited findings and recommendations report, following a Health Market Inquiry that was launched in 2013, highlighting the need to establish a supply-side regulator and a multilateral negotiating forum to set tariffs. In handing over the... →

Tribunal approves settlement between commission, wire cartel

By: Simone Liedtke 20th September 2019 The Competition Tribunal has approved separate settlement agreements between the Competition Commission and two wire products manufacturers who were accused of cartel conduct. Wireforce Steelbar and Hendok admitted to being part of a cartel that fixed the prices of nails, wire and wire related... →

Competition Commission refers fire protection collusion matter to tribunal

By: Marleny Arnoldi 16th September 2019 The Competition Commission has referred a case of alleged collusion against 18 fire protection companies to the Competition Tribunal. The companies allegedly implicated are Automatic Sprinkler Inspection Bureau, Belfa Solutions, Bhubesi Fire Projects, Centa KZN Sprinklers, National Security,... →

Competition Commission must grapple with exclusion, digitalisation – Bonakele

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 29th August 2019 Twenty-five years after the advent of democracy, South Africa's economy is still not inclusive or dynamic enough to meet the aspirations of all South Africans, says Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele. Speaking at the Commission’s thirteenth annual Competition Law, Economics and Policy... →

Competition Commission considers future priorities as it celebrates its successes

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 26th August 2019 As its celebrates it twentieth year, the Competition Commission – which itself has undergone internal transformation – has engendered much support in pursuing the transformation of the country’s economy; however, there is still much work to be done. This was revealed during the commission’s... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele

Grinaker-LTA acquirer looks to build tier-one, black-owned contractor

By: Terence Creamer 26th August 2019 The Laula Consortium, which is acquiring construction group Grinaker-LTA from Aveng for R100-million, reports that its goal is to transform the struggling contractor into a profitable tier-one, black-owned group, while preserving the technical and human competence developed within the company... →

Oteo Investment Holdings CEO Mlu Manci

South Africa does not need domestic EV market to produce EVs, says Patel

By: Irma Venter 22nd August 2019 There is an opportunity to bring battery electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle production to South Africa, without first developing a domestic market and charging infrastructure for these vehicles, says Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel. Addressing the National Association... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Dylan Slater
Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel

British American Tobacco's takeover of Twisp wins South African approval

By: Reuters 14th August 2019 British American Tobacco's (BAT) proposed takeover of e-cigarette maker Twisp won approval from South Africa's Competition Tribunal on Tuesday after the UK-based group agreed to a series of conditions. The local unit of BAT, the world's second-largest tobacco company by sales, announced the deal... →

Competition Tribunal has a new chairperson

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 2nd August 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Friday welcomed the appointment of its new chairperson, Mondo Mazwai, who has served as a tribunal member for more than six years. Mazwai, who is the tribunal’s first black female chairperson, is succeeding Norman Manoim, who has completed two terms as chairperson and... →

Pick n Pay to engage competition regulator over report on market dominance

By: African News Agency 30th July 2019 Supermarket chain store Pick n Pay said on Tuesday that it would continue to engage South African competition regulators to address its concerns about the retailers market dominance in shopping malls. This is after the Competition Commission in May said that it wants Pick n Pay, Woolworths, Spar... →

Improving SA’s Doing Business ranking requires acceleration of reforms

By: Nadine James 28th June 2019 During his State of the Nation Address in February, President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that “the World Bank’s annual Doing Business Report (DBR) currently ranks South Africa 82 out of 190 countries . . . we have set ourselves the target of being among the top 50 global performers within the next... →

GVK to pay R6m fine in settlement with competition authorities

By: Simone Liedtke 21st June 2019 The Competition Tribunal has ordered local construction firm GVK Siyazama Building to pay an administrative penalty of just over R6-million after the firm admitted to collusive tendering in three construction projects in the Western Cape. The firm’s admission and its agreement to pay the fine,... →

Govt explores new approach to industrial policy implementation

By: Nadine James 18th June 2019 The government – led by the Presidency – is rethinking how industrial policy is conceptualised and implemented as a key element in revitalising the economy. This emerged during a recent debate organised by trade research organisation Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) on the role of... →

DTI forges ahead with product standardisation task

By: Mamaili Mamaila 14th June 2019 Following Mining Charter III’s call to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to develop a “Standardised Coding and Product Identification System in the Mining Supply Chain” whereby products can be identified using a unique name and code, the department has established a multistakeholder... →

INDUSTRY GROWTH The DTI looks forward to exchanging lessons and experiences to unpack challenges and identify solutions for growth across the manufacturing sector

South Africa tells investigators to clarify rand-rigging charges

By: Bloomberg 12th June 2019 The Competition Tribunal ordered antitrust investigators to clarify their charges of currency manipulation brought against more than 20 banks, drawing out a four-year legal battle. The tribunal, which adjudicates antitrust cases like a court, found deficiencies in referrals prepared by the... →

Opinion: New competition legislation could undermine manufacturing competitiveness

31st May 2019 In this opinion article, Manufacturing Circle executive director Philippa Rodseth outlines the organisation’s concerns with the Amended Competition Act, which she argues could create a number of unintended inefficiencies and consequences. →

GVK to pay R6m administrative penalty

By: Simone Liedtke 28th May 2019 Construction company GVK-Siya Zama has admitted to collusion and agreed to pay an administrative penalty of just over R6-million, the Competition Commission said on Tuesday. GVK was charged with price fixing, market division and collusive conduct in the construction industry in contravention of... →

Amended Act a ‘second revolution’ for competition law in South Africa

By: Terence Creamer 24th May 2019 The Competition Amendment Act, which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa in February, represents a “second revolution” for competition law in South Africa and will require practitioners to enter territory that is unchartered globally, Justice David Unterhalter argues. Speaking during... →

Nicola Theron, Norman Manoim, Liberty Mncube and Justice David Unterhalter

Tribunal approves CIVH, Vumatel deal

By: Creamer Media Reporter 30th April 2019 The Competition Tribunal has approved, subject to conditions, the proposed merger whereby Community Investment Ventures Holdings (CIVH) seeks to increase its shareholding in Vumatel. Following the merger, CIVH, which acquired its initial shares in Vumatel in June 2018, will have sole control of... →

Competition Tribunal unveils new website to provide easier access to information

By: Schalk Burger 29th April 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Monday announced that it had rebranded under a new logo and had redone its website to offer easier access to information for companies. The revamped website offers users the latest case information and documentation, breaking news, as well as improving search... →

Air force suppliers to be prosecuted for alleged collusive conduct

By: Creamer Media Reporter 16th April 2019 The Competition Commission has referred a case of alleged cartel conduct against network maintenance companies KF Computers and SAAB Grintek Defense to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. The two firms have been charged with alleged collusive tendering in respect of a tender that was put... →

Corrugated packaging paper companies prosecuted for collusive conduct

By: Simone Liedtke 15th April 2019 The Competition Commission has referred a case of alleged cartel conduct against packaging and paper companies Mpact and New Era Packaging to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. The two companies have been charged with fixing prices, dividing markets by allocating customers and tendering... →

Long-running trade dispute between aerospace giants ends with victory for Airbus

By: Rebecca Campbell 12th April 2019 Late last month the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Appellate Body found that the US had failed to end some of the subsidies awarded by Federal, State and local authorities to aerospace giant Boeing, and to stop the damage these subsidies were causing to Boeing’s Europe-based arch rival... →

Corruption has eroded pillars of democracy – report

By: Sane Dhlamini 10th April 2019 While South Africans commemorate the late freedom fighter Chris Hani, who was assassinated 26 years ago, civil society organisation Corruption Watch on Wednesday released a report on how corruption has eroded the pillars of democracy. This comes before South Africans cast their votes on May 8 in... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Corruption Watch executive director, David Lewis

Tribunal dismisses commission’s application to amend West Cape referral

By: Marleny Arnoldi 10th April 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed an application made by the Competition Commission to amend and supplement a complaint referral relating to alleged collusion by construction companies on a tender for the South African National Roads Agency Limited (Sanral). The tribunal in August... →

Sapia granted extended exemption for what is normally cartel conduct

By: Marleny Arnoldi 5th April 2019 The Competition Commission has extended the petroleum industry’s exemption of industry activities to June 30, following an application by the South African Petroleum Industry Association (Sapia). Ordinarily, the activities of Sapia members would be considered cartel conduct, says the commission. →

SME politics hindering civil projects, says consulting firm

By: Cameron Mackay 5th April 2019 Government efforts to motivate for the employment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for civil engineering and construction projects are causing difficulties for local infrastructure projects, says engineering and construction company Hyson Cells CEO and founder Sally Hall. “The... →

SME OPPORTUNITIES The most successful projects in which Hyson Cells has been involved are where women-owned teams have been employed

Education important for future of industry – Cesa

By: Cameron Mackay 5th April 2019 Consulting engineering association Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa) president Neresh Pather says introducing new technology subjects at technical high schools will play a critical role in preparing future generations for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the general consulting... →

NERESH PATHER

It’s pointless watching technology pass us by - reinventing, retooling and reskilling people will place the industry in a position to embrace technology

Consulting Engineers South Africa president Neresh Pather & Gauteng Road & Transport MEC Dr Ismail Vadi discuss education and technology in consulting engineering. Camerawork and Editing: Creamer Media's Nicholas Boyd.

Tribunal confirms settlement with thirteenth maize company

By: Simone Liedtke 13th March 2019 The Competition Tribunal has confirmed a settlement agreement between the Competition Commission and Paramount Mills, in which the milling company admitted to its involvement in a cartel and agreed to pay an administrative penalty of just over R1.3-million. According to the settlement agreement,... →

Women have only three-quarters of men’s legal rights, affecting work prospects

By: Sane Dhlamini 27th February 2019 If women had equal opportunities to reach their full potential, the world would not only be fairer, it would be prosperous, said World Bank Group interim president Kristalina Georgieva. In its newly released index titled Women, Business and the Law 2019: A Decade of Reform, the World Bank... →

What the Competition Amendment Bill means for the economy

By: African News Agency 14th February 2019 Cape Town-based intellectual property law Adams and Adams Attorneys on Thursday welcomed the signing of the Competition Amendment Bill into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa on Wednesday signed the Competition Amendment Bill into law which he said will be a boost for SMEs and economic... →

President Cyril Ramaphosa

Tribunal confirms Alcon Marepha’s settlement and R1.37m fine

By: Marleny Arnoldi 7th February 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Wednesday confirmed, as an order, a settlement agreement between power cable supplier Alcon Marepha and the Competition Commission, with Alcon to pay an administrative penalty of R1.37-million. Alcon admitted to collusive tendering through the submission of cover... →

Germany presses for changes in EU competition rules after Siemens/Alstom deal blocked

By: Reuters 6th February 2019 Europe should change its competition rules to facilitate cross-border mergers and create European champions which can compete with rivals from China and the United States, German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said on Wednesday. Siemens and Alstom's plan to create a European rail champion... →

Tribunal prohibits merger of steel drum makers Rheem and Greif

By: Schalk Burger 31st January 2019 The Competition Tribunal on Thursday announced that it had prohibited the proposed merger between industrial packaging companies Rheem and Greif, in which Greif would have acquired a majority interest in Rheem. International Greif and local Rheem are suppliers of industrial packaging products,... →

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