National crackdown hits Shoprite Checkers and other retailers in South Africa
The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued 167 compliance notices to suppliers and retailers in South Africa found to be in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA).
The notices were issued following an inspection crackdown across Gauteng, Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga provinces.
The inspections were conducted alongside other regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies between April and September 2026.
According to the NCC, the crackdown was part of its efforts to ensure that suppliers in South Africa comply with the requirements of the CPA, thereby protecting consumers against potentially harmful practices.
The inspections revealed widespread contraventions of the CPA, including non-disclosure of information, trade descriptions and the supply of unsafe goods to consumers.
Of the stores inspected, the NCC discovered contraventions of sections 14, 16, 22, 48, 23, 24, 24, 26, 26, 56 or 55 of the CPA, as well as section 24(3), read with regulation 6.
These provisions generally address requirements relating to the display and disclosure of prices, trade descriptions, product labelling and the consumer’s right to receive goods that meet the standards as prescribed by the CPA.
The precise contraventions differ from one supplier to another; however, some of the key issues found were:
- Items without proper labelling
- Items past their expiry dates
- Items damaged
- Stores operating without VAT numbers
- Stores not keeping sales records
- Stores displaying goods without pricing
- Stores importing items with no labelling
- Unfair, unjust or unreasonable terms and conditions for services
- Refusal to cancel services on request
The inspections covered a range of businesses, including supermarkets, mini-markets, general dealers, cash-and-carry stores, tuck shops, wholesalers, butcheries, takeaway outlets, clothing retailers, cosmetics suppliers, hardware businesses and other retail establishments.
While the vast majority of businesses hit in the inspection blitz are localised or independent operations, one Shoprite Checkers in Gauteng was caught up in the enforcement (notice 153).
This store was found to be in contravention of Section 55 of the CPA, where various canned goods supplied by the store had no labelling, had damaged packaging, or were past their expiry dates.
Other businesses had been more egregious in their operations, lacking a VAT number, using unfair terms and conditions for consumers seeking their services, or maintaining no sales records.
Notably, the NCC said that the compliance notices are an early step in enforcement.
“A compliance notice is a formal enforcement measure that requires a supplier to address identified contraventions of the CPA,” it said.
“Suppliers are expected to take the corrective action specified in their respective notices and comply with the requirements of the CPA.”
Where a supplier fails to comply with a compliance notice, the NCC may take further enforcement steps, including referring the matter to the National Consumer Tribunal for an appropriate order.
Such proceedings may result in an administrative fine or other relief permitted by the CPA.
Acting NCC commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said that suppliers—especially of foodstuffs—need to urgently comply with the CPA as it puts consumer health at risk.
The NCC added that compliance with the CPA’s provisions is an obligation for every supplier.
The full list of suppliers and contraventions can be read below:
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