DIS-CHEM PHARMACIES LIMITED On Thursday, Dis-Chem filed a notice of withdrawal to appeal at the Competition Appeals Court.
"I am pleased that Dis-Chem has made this decision. The price increases that occurred during the state of national disaster were regrettable. We believe that the Tribunal made the right call by condemning the conduct.
"We have been consistent in arguing that price gouging in a pandemic deprives consumers, particularly poor consumers, of access to essential goods that are necessary to prevent a further escalation of the pandemic," said Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele.
In its investigation, the Commission found that Dis-Chem has charged excessive prices on essential hygienic goods to the detriment of customers and consumers, in contravention of Section 8(1)(a) of the Competition Act read together with Regulation 4 of the Consumer Protection Regulations.
These essential items are surgical face masks blue 50PC, surgical face masks 5PC and surgical face masks folio dress blue.
From at least
The Commission's investigation established that prior to the declaration of a national state of disaster, Dis-Chem was selling the three types of masks, namely, surgical face masks blue 50PC, surgical face masks 5PC and surgical face masks folio dress blue at far lower prices.
For surgical face mask blue 50PC, the average price was inflated from R43.47 (excl. VAT) per unit (50 masks) in
The surgical face masks 5PC, the average price increased from R13.27 (excl. VAT) per unit (5 masks) in
Dis-Chem's surgical face masks folio dress blue prices increased by 25% while costs declined by 0.1%.
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