Schools that signed agreements with the Competition Commission heeded the commission’s call to root out anti-competitive practices on the pricing of school uniforms and the monopoly of supply.
“Since the conclusion of the settlement agreements in 2019, the commission has not received any complaints from parents or any other stakeholders against the parties with whom these agreements were concluded. This is in and of itself an indication that these parties are complying with the order,” said the commission spokesperson, Siyabulela Makunga.
Settlement agreements were concluded with the AdvTech Group, St Andrew’s School for Girls, Curro Schools and Inspired Schools, as well as the two largest manufacturers and suppliers of school uniforms, Grit Procurement and McCullagh & Bothwell.
Newly signed school uniforms memorandum to assist struggling families
By Sisonke Mlamla
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Cape Town - Hard-pressed families could soon be saving on school uniforms following the signing of a memorandum of understanding aimed at stopping schools from forcing parents to buy from exclusive suppliers.
The Competition Commission, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and four associations representing school governing bodies (SGBs) joined forces to strengthen regulation on the procurement of school uniforms and other learning-related goods and services.
The organisations signed the MoU on Monday, which culminated after years of investigations and advocacy, following complaints received from parents who were forced to buy school uniforms from exclusively selected suppliers.
Some SA parents will now pay lower school uniform prices thesouthafrican.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thesouthafrican.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Competition Commission and school governing bodies school uniform sign agreement citizen.co.za - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from citizen.co.za Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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