Competition Amendment Bill

Call for comments opened 01 December 2017 Share this page:

Submissions are now closed (since 01 February 2018)

Economic Development

The Minister of Economic Development published the Competition Amendment Bill, 2017 for public comment.

Comments can be emailed to [email protected]  by no later than Thursday, 1 February 2018.

Accompanying the Bill is the Background Note on the Competition Amendment Bill, 2017 and an Explanatory Memorandum.

The main objectives of the amendments are to address two persistent structural constraints on the South African economy: the high levels of economic concentration in the economy and the skewed ownership profile of the economy. This is done through:

-Strengthening the provisions of the Competition Act relating to prohibited practices, especially abuse of dominance, price discrimination and mergers;

-Requiring special attention to be given to the impact of anti-competitive conduct on small businesses and firms owned by historically disadvantaged persons;

-Strengthening the provisions relating to market inquiries so that:(a) the outcomes of these inquiries result in action that promotes competition; (b) there is guidance on how to evaluate the adverse features of a market; and, (c) requiring special attention upon small businesses and firms owned by historically disadvantaged persons;

-Providing the Executive with effective means of participating in competition related proceedings and the power to initiate market inquiries into a sector; and

-Promoting the administrative efficacy of the Competition Commission, market inquiries and the Competition Tribunal.