DocumentOngoingNews

Days Numbered Devious Traders

GCIS / SAnewsRef: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/days-numbered-devious-traders

Official source

Source domain: sanews.gov.za

Collected on 28 July 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This is a SAnews.gov.za news article dated 7 August 2018. KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Sihle Zikalala says the provincial government is stepping up enforcement against dishonest traders who sell expired products, run unregulated micro-lending/loan-sharking, impose excessive bank charges, and issue loans with exorbitant interest to already indebted applicants. He also says illegal micro-lenders have been confiscating clients’ identity documents and making unlawful deductions from airtime and social grants. The article states that the department will use unannounced compliance blitzes, issue compliance notices and fines, and is establishing a Consumer Court to hear allegations of contraventions.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

legal hearing forumOngoing

Consumer Court hearings on contraventions of legal prescripts

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs is establishing a Consumer Court to hear allegations and instances of violations of consumer protection laws. This court will provide a formal forum for resolving disputes between consumers and businesses that have breached legal prescripts.

Who it is for: consumers and businesses involved in alleged contraventions of consumer protection laws
How to act on it: Submit an allegation or complaint to the department for consideration by the newly established Consumer Court

Show the line this came from

We are in the process of establishing a Consumer Court, which will conduct hearings when there are allegations and instances of contraventions of legal prescripts.

Facts

Places

KwaZulu-Natal

Reference

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/days-numbered-devious-traders

Key Takeaways

Date: Tuesday, 7 August 2018
Location: KwaZulu-Natal (including Hluhluwe)
MEC: Sihle Zikalala (Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs)
Unannounced in loco inspections/blitzes to enforce consumer compliance
Consumer rights abuses cited: expired perishable food (as far back as 2015, including infant food), unregulated micro-lending/loan sharks
Illegal practices cited: confiscation of identity documents, unlawful deductions of airtime and social grants
Enforcement actions: severe compliance notices and fines
Planned/establishing: Consumer Court to conduct hearings on contraventions of legal prescripts
Sihle Zikalala
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs
SAnews.gov.za
Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)