Consumer Protection Law

• • Consumer protection law deals with the strict guidelines for businesses to do more to support their customers, it gives
    customers more protection and influence on where and what they want to purchase.
    
    The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 promotes and advances the social and economic welfare of consumers in South Africa.
    The Act aims to introduce a single comprehensive framework for consumer protection affairs in South Africa and guarantees the following fundamental consumer rights:
    
    • Right to equality in the consumer market;
    
    • Right to privacy;
    
    • Right to choose;
    
    • Right to disclosure and information;
    
    • Right to fair and responsible marketing;
    
    • Right to fair and honest dealing;
    
    • Right to fair, just and reasonable terms and conditions;
    
    • Right to fair value, good quality and safety;
    
    • Right to accountability from suppliers.
    
    The Act applies to:
    
    • every transaction occurring within the Republic of South Africa, unless exempted;
    
    • the promotion of any goods or services within the country, subject to exceptions;
    
    • goods or services that are supplied or performed in terms of a transaction to which the Act applies;
    
    • goods that are supplied in terms of a transaction that is exempt from the application of the Act, insofar as product liability, safety
    monitoring and recall are concerned.
    
    Suppliers at all levels of the supply chain are directly affected by several provisions and regulations of the Act. It is important for businesses to
    reassess their interaction with consumers on all levels and to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the legislation.
    
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    Hi, I’m Kailash Pillay, an attorney from the city of Johannesburg. My passion for the law
    stems from a desire to improve upon the lives of the vulnerable who fall prey to a
    corrupt system.
    I studied at the University of Johannesburg where I obtained my Bachelor of Laws
    degree, the starting point to the long journey of becoming a legal practitioner.
    This profession has taught me to persevere through the complexities of the law and to
    continually develop my skills as a legal professional.