COMPETITION ACT

• The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition:
  • called for public comments on draft regulations proposing a ‘non-exhaustive list’ of factors relevant to the process of determining whether a vertical practice believed to restrict competition should be prohibited, and
  • gazetted regulations exempting for ten years certain categories of agreements or practices between small and medium businesses from provisions prohibiting restrictive horizontal and vertical practices.

WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES

• The Government Communication and Information system’s SAnews published an article on the significance of revised norms and standards for water and sanitation tariff setting gazetted on 27 May 2024 but only in force from 1 April 2026. As a framework for tariff setting by bulk and retail water and sanitation service providers, the new norms and standards provide for multi-year tariff determination. This is expected to:
  • promote ‘predictability’
  • facilitate longer term planning for sustainable, ‘fair and affordable’, ‘pro-poor’ services (including subsidised services for indigent households), and
  • promote ‘timeous payment’ for water usage.

REGISTERED AUDITORS

• National Treasury issued a media statement and explanatory note unpacking the new maximum fines for registered auditors found guilty of improper conduct. Replacing those gazetted in June 2023, the new maximum fines apply per charge on admission of guilt. They do not apply retrospectively.

Prepared by Pam Saxby