South Africa: Consumer Affairs Court
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Database last updated: 23 September 2024 Most recent decision: 27 August 2024 Number of decisions: 73 Decisions beginning with ...
Decisions for the years ...
Consumer Courts are a creature of Provincial Governments Administration as consumer protection is a concurrent jurisdiction between provinces and national government. These Courts were intended to alleviate challenges that consumers experience when they have complaints which are not resolved by businesses as is common knowledge that consumers do not have the economic muscle to litigate where their rights are infringed. These Courts are intended to be expeditious and there are no fees payable by consumers. Consumer Protectors in each Province litigate on behalf of consumers. The Courts are comprised by three to five members. These Courts are basically Tribunals and they work in the same way as the National Consumer Tribunal. Currently there are 7 Consumer Affairs Courts that are operating in seven Provinces; being Gauteng, North West; Mpumalanga; Limpopo; KZN; Northern Cape and Eastern Cape. Being quasi judicial bodies, they sit as and when there are cases ready for adjudication, the Consumer Affairs Office will first investigate a consumer complaint and when mediation fails and the Office is satisfied that the supplier or credit provider is engaged in a prohibited conduct as envisaged by Consumer Protection Act, National Credit Act or contravention of a provincial legislation and the supplier or credit provider refuses to abide by the determination of the Consumer Affairs Office, the case will then be referred to the Consumer Court for adjudication. The frequency differs from Province to Province but there are Courts session on monthly basis. Contact details: |