Pharmacy chain Dis-Chem has withdrawn its appeal against a decision by the Competition Tribunal to fine it R1.2 million for hiking the prices of certain types of surgical face masks at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic | Fin24
for hiking the prices of certain types of surgical face masks at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have been consistent in arguing that price gouging in a pandemic deprives consumers, particularly poor consumers, of access to essential goods that are necessary to prevent a further escalation of the pandemic," said Competition Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele in a statement on Friday. After receiving complaints from the public about alleged excessive pricing for face masks, the watchdog referred the case to the Competition Tribunal in April.
Dis-Chem at the time argued that it had been forced to hike prices because of disruptions in supply and price increases by suppliers.Dis-Chem subsequently applied to the Competition Appeal Court to appeal the decision, saying it contained a"number of errors of fact and law".
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