National Consumer Commission Commissioner, Thezi Mabuza and UL Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, Prof Richard Madadzhe, sign an MoU for a partnership to champion the rights of consumers
UL, NCC enter into MoU to strengthen consumer rights
By Reuben Maake – reuben.maake@ul.ac.za
The School of Law at the University of Limpopo (UL) has entered into a three-year partnership with the National Consumer Commission (NCC) to advocate for the protection of consumer rights
Advocate Mafanywa Mangammbi, Head of the Department of Mercantile and Labour Law in the School of Law, explained that the collaboration is part of the School’s community engagement initiatives aimed at empowering ordinary members of society, who may not be aware of their consumer rights.
“We examined the Consumer Rights Act and identified several challenges that necessitated academic intervention, one of which was the lack of awareness among community members about their rights as consumers,” Adv. Mangammbi stated.
As per the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), UL and NCC will collaborate on various consumer protection projects, explore and promote potential consumer protection reforms. It also seeks to develop curriculum to enhance students’ skills, foster culture of consumer activism, and engage in collaborative research to inform policy making.
Speaking on the collaboration, Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission, Thezi Mabuza, lauded the joint initiative.
Mabuza said the partnership aims to rectify injustices faced by consumers, including unfair pricing and inadequate information.
Mabuza specifically noted instances of consumer rights abuses in universities. She cited the coercion by retail stores of underage students, to open clothing accounts.
“Some of you are being misled into opening accounts without a stable income, resulting in accumulated debt before you could reach the age of 21, often without consent of your parents,” Mabuza told the audience that comprised students.
Mabuza added that the MoU also intends to promote consumer literacy, with a focus on the reading of labels on goods.
Regarding the government’s commitment to consumer redress, Mabuza said that over the years, the commission paid R40 million in consumer redress, signalling the presence of anomalies that the partnership seeks to address.
The Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Department (LEDET) endorsed the partnership, adding that it aligns with some of its existing initiatives. Head of Department, Matodzi Rathumba, mentioned their successful establishment of a directorate that is designated to resolving consumer complaints and has also established the Limpopo Consumer Rights Court.
According to Prof Omphemetse Sibanda, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management and Law at UL, “The partnership is particularly timely, especially in the province of Limpopo, wherein education on consumer rights is lacking.”
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at UL, Prof Richard Madadzhe welcomed the collaboration.