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Fragmentation Versus Convergence of Consumer Law Within One Legal System and Across Legal Systems: An African Perspective

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Abstract

The theme of fragmentation versus convergence of consumer law has relevance for Africa, inter alia because the African Continental Free Trade Area is foreseen to become a single continental market. Fragmentation of consumer law within one legal system and across legal systems is inevitable. Several types of hyper-vulnerable consumers require special protection. Drafters and interpreters of consumer legislation should remember that the majority of African consumers are hyper-vulnerable. Consumer legislation attuned to this reality needs special reference to the needs of such consumers. More resources should be allocated to the protection of hyper-vulnerable consumers, including through proactive enforcement. The informal economy may require some special rules, but the rules on quality of products should mostly remain the same. More resources should be targeted at enforcing safety standards and rooting out counterfeit goods and creative ways found to bring consumers in the informal economy under the protection of consumer law. Fragmentation of sources of consumer law in Africa and at the level of enforcement agencies is also considered. Even if rules are harmonized across legal systems, fragmentation is inevitable, inter alia due to different interpretations by local agencies. An attempt at some convergence has benefits, but cogent arguments against harmonization exist. Some realities in the Global South militate against harmonization. There is greater potential for some level of harmonization where there is a real cross-border interest, such as in e-commerce, travel, and tourism. When convergence is considered, the reasons behind current divergence should be researched to establish the potential for convergence.

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Notes

  1. Other socioeconomic rights protected by the Constitution include the right to adequate housing, healthcare, social security and education, and children’s rights for example to basic nutrition and shelter (ss 26, 27, 28, and 29). Electricity is not mentioned.

  2. €468 at 7 December 2018.

  3. These racial categories, dating from the apartheid era, are still used in the democratic South Africa to establish socioeconomic realities.

  4. €254 at 18 December 2018.

  5. 2013 (1) SA 219 (KZD).

  6. For example, in Zambia, only 47.8% of the population had mobile internet access and 0.22% fixed internet access in 2017 (Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority 2017). In South Africa, one of the most affluent sub-Saharan African countries, 65% of consumers above 16 years old can access the internet from home, which is still well below the global average of 82% (Bizcommunity 2017).

  7. A “hawker” is defined in the South African legislation making this exception as “a natural person lawfully engaged, solely for his or her own benefit, in the selling of goods on the street or in public places or spaces in respect of which all members of the public enjoy unrestricted and unconditional access subject only to law” (Notice at the end of the Consumer Protection Act Regulations 2011).

  8. Consumer Protection Act of 2012; see Malala (2018), p. 356–358.

  9. Consumer Protection Act of 2010; see Rizzi (2018).

  10. Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008; see Naude (2018).

  11. Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2019; Monye (2018).

  12. Section 209 requires that the Ombud Council operate one or more centres “to assist financial customers to formulate complaints and to identify for them the ombud appropriate to deal with their complaints.”

  13. Michaels, R. Legal Unification: Form and Substance. Unpublished conference paper presented at the conference Towards an Asian Legal Order: Conversations on Convergence, Singapore Management University, 8–9 December 2016 (on file with the author).

  14. Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia (https://econsumer.gov/MemberCountries#crnt, accessed 16 August 2019).

  15. Malan v City of Cape Town 2014 (6) SA 315 (CC).

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Cases

    South Africa

    • Truworths Ltd and Others v Minister of Trade and Industry and Another 2018 (3) SA 558 (WCC)

    Legislation

      European Union

      • Directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights (2011) OJ L 304/64

      Kenya

      • Consumer Protection Act 2012

      Nigeria

      • Connection and Disconnection Procedures for Electricity Services, GN 72 in the Official Gazette of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, No 103, vol 94 of 21 December 2007

      Seychelles

      • Consumer Protection Act 2010

      South Africa

      • Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996

      • Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008

      • Consumer Protection Act Regulations, Government Notice R293 in Government Gazette 34180 of 1 April 2011

      • Consumer Protection Bill 19 of 2008

      • Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017

      • National Credit Act 34 of 2005

      • National Credit Amendment Act 7 of 2019

      • Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000

      • Water Services Act 108 of 1997

      Zimbabwe

      • Consumer Contracts Act 6 of 1994, Cap 8:03

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      1. Department of Private Law, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7700, South Africa

        T. Naude

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      Naude, T. Fragmentation Versus Convergence of Consumer Law Within One Legal System and Across Legal Systems: An African Perspective. J Consum Policy 43, 11–33 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10603-019-09429-w

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