Professional Update
A
monthly newsletter for KZN Attorneys from the Kwazulu-Natal Law Society

4 September 2009

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

InfoUpdate 19 of 2009
Competition Commission, Tribunal and Appeal Court

Electronic copies of this information may be obtained from our librarians at help@lawlibrary.co.za or click on the underlined hyperlink where relevant

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

Numsa calls for competition fines to be used to create jobs  - 4 September
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has called on government to use the money generated from competition fines to be used to jobs. Lambasting the competition commission for proposing "lenient" fines of 10 percent of their annual turnover in South Africa and their exports from the South Africa if they are found guilty of price fixing or collusion, Numsa said anti-competitive behaviours undermined the country's efforts to save jobs and create decent work for all. - Business Report website

Competition commission to continue dairy probe - 26 August
The probe into possible anti-competitive activity in the dairy industry by the Competition Commission will continue. This followed a ruling by the Competition Appeal Court on Wednesday that although there were procedural errors in the Competition Commission's dealings with Woodlands Dairy, this did not warrant a dismissal of the case. - Mail & Guardian website

See also : Petroleum industry seeks exemption from Competition Act to avoid fuel shortages

Commission probes collusion in construction sector - 1 September
The Competition Commission has initiated an investigation into collusive practices in the construction industry, it said on Tuesday. "The commission has received several applications for corporate leniency from construction companies for collusive practices with respect to certain construction projects," deputy commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele said in a statement. - Mail & Guardian website

Construction companies apply to commission for leniency  - 2 September
The competition commission on Tuesday said it had received several applications for corporate leniency from construction companies for collusive practices with respect to certain construction projects. - Business Report website

M&R files formal objection after collusion allegations - 2 September
South African construction and engineering group Murray & Roberts (M&R) on Wednesday said that it had lodged a formal objection with the DG of the Department of Trade and Industry over allegations of it participating in collusive practices. The group, led by CEO Brian Bruce, also "categorically" denied any involvement in collusion in the construction industry. - Creamer Media's Engineering News website

Competition Commission : fines for steel companies ; construction sector investigation - 1 September
Interview with Thembinkosi Bonakele : deputy commissioner, Competition Commission and Alec Hogg. - Moneyweb website

Steel producers may face fines for price fixing : Competition Commission - 1 September
Long and flat steel producers ArcelorMittal South Africa, Cape Gate and Cape Town Iron Steel Works could face penalties amounting to 10% of their annual turnover in South Africa and their exports from the country in the preceding financial year, the Competition Commission said on Tuesday. Following an investigation into potential collusion in the steel industry, which was initiated in April last year, the Commission announced on Tuesday that it had recommended that the Competition Tribunal impose administrative penalties against the three steel producers. - Creamer Media's Engineering News website

Competition Tribunal

30 July 2009
38/LM/Apr09 [2009] ZACT 51
Royal Bafokeng Resources (Pty) Ltd v Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine Joint Venture

30 July 2009
45/LM/May09 [2009] ZACT 50
Investec Bank Ltd and Another v Stella Group Holdings (Pty) Ltd

17 July 2009
03/LM/Jan09 [2009] ZACT 49
Bidpaper Plus (Pty) Ltd v Pretoria Wholesale Stationers (Pty) Ltd

17 July 2009
39/LM/Apr09 [2009] ZACT 48
Aquarius Platinum Ltd v Ridge Mining PLC

17 June 2009
109/LM/Oct08 [2009] ZACT 47
Lafarge South Africa (Pty) Ltd v Ash Resources (Pty) Ltd

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