InfoUpdate
An Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society

27 August 2010

This professional service draws attention to current and important items of news
 and members are directed to the hosts' websites

InfoUpdate 19 of 2010
Competition Commission, Tribunal and Appeal Court

Click on the underlined hyperlink where relevant

Competition Commission, Tribunal and Appeal Court - http://www.compcom.co.za/ ; http://www.comptrib.co.za/

Record new fine looms over Sasol - 13 August
SASOL said yesterday it would defend itself against new allegations from the Competition Commission of collusion and excessive pricing in its chemicals division. If found guilty, the petrochemicals giant could face another record-breaking fine, this time of R4,4bn. - Business Day website

SAB to answer on claims of stifling competition - 10 August
South African Breweries MD Norman Adami is one of a number of witnesses who will take the stand to refute allegations in hearings beginning this week that the country's dominant brewer engaged in behaviour such as market allocation and price-fixing. Mr Adami will join SAB sales and distribution director Wayne McAuley and distribution services manager Pieter Wessels in testifying against the allegations referred to the Competition Tribunal by the Competition Commission. - allAfrica website

We've been 'pro-competitive' : SAB - 9 August
SA Breweries will contest a case of alleged anti-competitive behaviour to be heard by the Competition Tribunal, the brewer said on Monday. - Moneyweb website

SAB antitrust hearing cut short - 11 August
The scheduled 13-day antitrust hearing into allegations against South African Breweries, was cut short unexpectedly today after the Competition Commission asked the brewer to discuss a possible settlement. - Business Day website

Bid to resolve SAB competition hearing fails - 13 August
Despite a dramatic last-minute attempt to settle the Competition Commission's case against South African Breweries, the negotiations came to naught and the Competition Tribunal’s hearing into the charges levelled against SAB and 13 of its distributors will continue. The commission and South African Breweries called a halt to the hearing, which had just begun this week, so that the two parties could thrash out a settlement. - Mail & Guardian website

SAB tribunal adjourned, new witness tomorrow - 17 August
The hearing into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by South African Breweries was adjourned today at lunchtime following the evidence of witness Gerrie Mofokeng, who used to run a beer distribution warehouse in Springs, Gauteng. The Competition Commission's next witness, Picardi Rebel MD Darren Swersky, will only appear tomorrow. - Business Day website

Froth over 'abuses' by beer giant - 20 August
South African Breweries was accused of abusing Competition Tribunal processes during this week's hearing into the beer giant's alleged anti-competitive practices. The claims of abuse were in response to an application by SAB aimed at forcing Metcash Group chief executive Peter Dodson, a witness for the Competition Commission, to hand over a wide range of documents and data from his business. - Mail & Guardian website

Aveng settles cartel case with R21 million fine - 11 August
The Competition Commission has entered into a settlement agreement with Aveng (Africa) Ltd, trading as Duraset in which it admits that it took part in the mining roof bolts cartel. Duraset has agreed to pay a penalty of R21.9 million, representing 5 percent of its 2008 annual turnover. - Business Report website

Competition Tribunal lays a charge against First Uranium : interview with Alec Hogg and Andreas Wessels, member of the Competition Tribunal. The Competition Tribunal today took an unprecedented step of laying a charge against a junior accountant employed by First Uranium called Rory Cole. Andreas, there's a statement on the Stock Exchange News Service from the chief executive of First Uranium, saying it seems to be a communication error. - Moneyweb website

First Uranium to meet with Competition Tribunal - 16 August
First Uranium Corporation said on Monday that it was investigating the circumstances which led the South African Competition Tribunal to lay a charge with the South African Police Service against Rory Cole, a junior financial accountant of the group. It follows Cole's alleged failure to respond to a summons ordering him to be present at a merger hearing or to produce relevant information in the proposed acquisition by Bedrock Mining Support of the Letaba, Numbi and De Kaap businesses of Mondi. - Business Day website

Competition body applies for arrest warrant - 17 August
The Competition Tribunal has taken the extraordinary step of laying a charge with the police against the accountant of First Uranium for not responding to a summons to attend a hearing or produce evidence. The charge was laid last Friday, but the Tribunal has indicated if Rory Cole provides the information it requested it could withdraw the charges. - Business Day website

Tribunal withdraws charges against First Uranium accountant - 19 August
South Africa's Competition Tribunal announced on Thursday that it had withdrawn a criminal charge against Rory Cole, a financial accountant of First Uranium, for failing to respond to a summons issued by the tribunal. - Creamer Media's Mining Weekly website

See also :
ANC unimpressed by print media commitment to transformation [South Africa]

InfoUpdate : an Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society