ICYMI |Competition Commission warn schools, parents of selling expensive uniform

The Commission has issued a circular of procurement of school uniform and other goods and services to the Department of Basic Education.

The Commission’s spokesperson, Siyabulela Makunga, has warned schools to comply with the circular.

“The first thing we would like to say as the Commission is that we have seen a significant change in behaviour both in schools and suppliers in terms of making sure the exclusivity does not continue.

“We are investigating and prosecuting a few cases, but we wouldn’t wish to continue prosecuting schools because they are taking no regard of these guidelines. We are hopeful that they will come to the party."

“We are now in the COVID-19 era and learners are now required to buy masks, sanitisers and so forth, and these things we are taking a closer look at and we are encouraging schools to be as open and transparent and do away with exclusivity to this kind of business,” adds Makunga.

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Makunga has also called on schools to negotiate lesser prices of uniform with suppliers.

“We understand there is sentimental attachment to certain symbolic uniform, we do wish to encourage them that at least make sure that these uniforms are generic as possible and are obtainable from more than one supplier.

“Schools should be able to obtain competitive bidding from various suppliers and those agreements should be for short agreements and not be allowed to spend over a long time and excluding other participants from benefitting to this kind of work.” 

Read the full circular below