By BAKANG MOKOTO
14 July 2025- The National Consumer Commission (NCC) said it has identified 20 additional suppliers who have accepted payments from consumers, but failed to deliver goods or services or delivered defective goods. The NCC said consumers are urged to be cautious when transacting with these suppliers.
The NCC spokesperson, Phetho Ntaba said in many cases, these suppliers have vanished from their known addresses, while some have shut down their websites, making it impossible for consumers to contact them for redress. Ntaba said consumers filed complaints with the NCC alleging that they cannot obtain redress as the suppliers are unresponsive.
“The NCC’s efforts to contact these suppliers to facilitate redress for consumers failed, as the preliminary assessment indicates that these suppliers have either closed down or never existed.
“The NCC views this conduct as a deliberate attempt to evade the law and avoid accountability. The purpose and policy of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), amongst others, is to protect consumers from unconscionable, unfair, unreasonable, unjust or improper trade descriptions, and deceptive, misleading, unfair, or fraudulent conduct,” she said.
Ntaba further said the CPA also mandates that suppliers provide consumers with their addresses and communication channels to reach those suppliers. She added that consumers are urged to exercise caution when transacting with these suppliers.
“Suppliers who believe they have been listed erroneously are encouraged to contact the NCC. Meanwhile, the NCC has appointed tracing agents to locate these suppliers,” said Ntaba.
The Guardian 