The Consumer Protection Act is a South African law that protects consumers from harm. It also creates significant compliance obligations for most businesses in South Africa. Read the practical implications and take action.

The Consumer Protection Act came into force on 31 March 2011! Do you comply? The President of South Africa signed the Consumer Protection Act on 24 April 2009, and it was published in the government gazette on 29 April 2009. There were delays, but it commenced on 31 March 2011.

We provide various Consumer Protection Act services – quick and practical solutions for companies and organisations who would like to ensure they comply when dealing with their customers or consumers. We have extensive experience and expertise. You can download the Consumer Protection Act.

If you are a consumer in need of protection, click here.

The Act affects virtually every business in South Africa. We therefore thought that we would give you a heads-up on some of the practical implications of this Act for you. We’re going to refer to it as the Consumer Protection Act or just the Act. Many people still incorrectly refer to it as the Consumer Protection Bill rather than as the Consumer Protection Act. A Bill is a draft Act that has not yet been enacted.

What the Labour Relations Act did for employees, the Customer Protection Act will do for consumers

The practical implications of the Consumer Protection Act

So what does the Consumer Protection Act mean for you? Here are some of the most important things:

  1. South African consumers are the most protected consumers in the world. If you are consumer-facing, this is not good news. However, as with many challenges, it can also be seen as an opportunity. You are required to comply with the law, so why not do so and use the marketing opportunity to tell your customers how much you protect them? The businesses that comply first might well be viewed favourably by consumers.
  2. If your goods are shrink-wrapped (such as shrink-wrapped software) you might run into problems with regards the consumer’s right to inspect goods. The definition of goods includes intangible goods such as software.
  3. If you have fixed-term agreements with your customers, you may be required to give them notice before the fixed term expires. This could place an administrative burden on you.
  4. All agreements with consumers must be in plain and understandable language. You are probably going to have to re-draft or amend your terms, sale agreements, and advertisements into plain language. If you don’t, your customers might be able to get out of the agreements; you might be guilty of unconscionable conduct; or you might be sued.
  5. The general theme of the Act is to protect the poor and the vulnerable, and is, in a way, the Bill of Rights for the consumer.
  6. The Act alters the common law to be more favourable to consumers. By default, you give the consumer various warranties and indemnities. The warranties that you give in your agreements are no longer the only warranties that apply.
  7. The Act also applies to legal services provided by attorneys, so it impacts attorneys directly, too. The ambit of the Act is very wide. Depending on the content of the regulations, a lessee may be considered a consumer, and therefore lease agreements may need to comply with the Act. The Act does not apply to employment contracts. A franchisee will be a consumer, and therefore franchise agreements will have to comply.
  8. The court will be given the power to redraft (well order you to change them, actually) your contracts, terms of business, terms of sale and other consumer-related terms. Radical I know – it took me a while to get my head around this. We can review your agreement to ensure compliance with the CPA.
  9. Courts must interpret standard form contracts in favour of consumers.
  10. Promotional competitions will be governed by this Act, rather than the Lotteries Act. The way in which promotional competitions were dealt with in the Lotteries Act was (with respect) a mess, and it is a good thing that those provisions are being repealed. At least now we will have more certainty. You must prepare competition rules before you run in a competition, whether online or offline.
  11. If you are currently ABC (Pty) Ltd, trading as XYZ, you will have to register the business name XYZ.
  12. The consumer protection provisions in the ECT Act are not repealed, and therefore, there is a potential overlap.
  13. You are going to have to revisit your refund policy.
  14. Your marketing campaigns will be affected and conducted in accordance with the Act.
  15. Mechanisms are put in place to enable consumers to enforce their rights.

Need help with it?

We can help you determine the practical implications of the Consumer Protection Act for you and assist you in complying. Read more about the Consumer Protection Act Services we offer. Otherwise, please contact us.