“Economist Dawie Roodt says Competition Commission must be closed in South Africa” – MyBroadband. This was the heading of an article published on 12 October 2025. We occasionally hear such critiques that competition enforcement stifles growth and deters investment.
To be clear, we welcome this debate. We should never take for granted that not everyone understands the importance of competition and inclusion. Unlike Dawie Roodt, extensively cited in the article we mentioned, we respect South Africa’s economic institutions, such as the Competition Commission and Tribunal and their remarkable accomplishments.
It has been more than 25 years since the competition project; South Africa has built a strong and admirable competition law and institutions. Enforcement of this law has significantly contributed to bringing better and more affordable goods and services to the people, creating an environment that encourages economic participation by all South Africans and increasing the competitiveness of South African businesses. Markets have evolved with new theories of harm, precedents and guidance.
Read Full Article on Mail & Guardian
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Major competition cases have come and gone, changing the way we think about and approach making markets work for all. To put this in some context, in 1998, the year the Competition Act was passed, Takealot, Uber, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube had yet to launch. And, like us, you did not even have a personal mobile phone.
In a way, Roodt’s cited remarks provide us with an opportunity to reflect on what the Competition Commission has achieved over the years. Going back to the beginning also means returning to first principles, considering the purpose of competition policy in South Africa. From day one, democratic South Africa recognised that there is a natural fit between pursuing both equity and efficiency.
Until the left-out majority of South Africans are meaningfully integrated into the economic mainstream, the economy cannot begin to realise its potential for efficiency. At its heart, the Competition Commission’s role is to support inclusiveness and sustainable economic growth. This means deliberately not leaning towards the freedom for incumbents.
The Competition Commission’s work in supporting inclusion and efficiency is a sound route towards competitive markets that work for all. An economy that works for everyone provides a stable and predictable environment for businesses, creates fertile conditions for new competitors, black-owned firms and industries to grow and makes a tangible difference in the lives and work of businesses, investors, consumers and workers. The Competition Commission’s work goes to the core of these ambitions, as reflected in numerous past decisions.
To name just a few, consider cartel cases such as the maize meal, bread and flour cartels or competition settlements that changed the pricing and licensing of HIV medicines, which helped society by lowering the prices of essential necessities. Other interventions, such as the COVID-19 price gouging cases, were crucial in protecting vulnerable consumers and rebuilding public trust in markets. Through its inquiries, the Competition Commission continues to play a pivotal role as an informed, expert and constructive adviser to the government on making markets work for all.
In ensuring that markets remain open for all, the Competition Commission’s work cultivates the right conditions for new and growing businesses, including black-owned businesses to thrive. The creation of such conditions depends, among other things, on a predictable, active and effective competition regime. A critical feature underpinning the evidence-based, objective and independent approach of the Competition Commission is the judicial oversight of its work.
The Competition Commission’s decisions are regularly reviewed in open court at the Competition Tribunal, and the Competition Tribunal’s decisions are reviewed at the Competition Appeal Court. This crucial piece of institutional design has earned South African competition institutions, including the Competition Commission, a strong reputation for high-quality independent decision-making.
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