Hand sanitiser rip-off companies slapped with hefty fine

BlueCollar Occupational Health and Atletico Investments have been jointly and severally penalised R3,550,000. Stock photo.Two companies found to have excessively overcharged the South African Police Service for hand sanitiser to the tune of R9.8m at the height of the Covid-19 crisis have been brought to justice.

In an order handed down by the Competition Tribunal, Gauteng-based BlueCollar Occupational Health and KZN-based Atletico Investments were jointly and severally penalised R3.5m in relation to their bulk supply of 10,000 25-litre containers of hand sanitiser in 2020.The tribunal found that during the hard lockdown, the SAPS desperately needed the product for members at the front line of efforts to contain the pandemic and enforce lockdown restrictions nationally.

In reasons for its decision, the tribunal described BlueCollar’s conduct as shocking in that it exploited the situation by charging excessively for hand sanitiser, which was crucial to combat the pandemic. “This is the second excessive pricing case successfully prosecuted by the commission and determined by the tribunal in the context of a public procurement process during the pandemic,” the commission said on Tuesday.

“The first prosecution of price gouging in the context of public procurement relates to the April 2022 matter, where another SAPS supplier, Tsutsumani Business Enterprises, was found guilty of price gouging in its supply of face masks in 2020.”

Good work...keep on there are plenty more

And what about the purchaser for buying over-priced goods?

Who was the fool that accepted the tender in the first place

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Hand sanitiser rip-off companies slapped with hefty fineTwo companies found to have excessively overcharged the SA Police Service for hand sanitiser to the tune of R9.8m at the height of the Covid-19 crisis have been brought to justice. Azikhale is time to bring stolen public funds back to give services to the poor What about the people who signed off on this ? There must be further consequences… Who are the company directors?
Source: TimesLIVE - 🏆 28. / 59 Read more »

Competition watchdog fines SAPS supplier R3.5m for 'shocking' sanitiser prices during lockdown | BusinessThe Competition Tribunal has found a supplier of hand sanitiser to the SA Police Service (SAPS) guilty of excessive pricing amounting to R9.8 million during the Covid-19 pandemic. | News24_Business _Business So, there's the formula for success. Overcharge by R9.8m, be found guilty by the CC and accept a fine of R3.5m. Rinse and repeat.
Source: News24 - 🏆 4. / 80 Read more »