The Powers, Duties & Functions Of The Consumer Tribunal



A Consumer Tribunal must -
  1. receive, hear, consider and decide on any consumer complaint which is before it by virtue of proceedings contemplated in this Act;
  2. sit on such days and during such hours and at such place as the presiding officer or Chairperson, in consultation with the Consumer Protector, may determine;
  3. hold and resume sittings at such time and place throughout the areas of the Province as the presiding officer or the Consumer Protector may determine;
  4. apply the existing law of South Africa in the assessment of a consumer complaint or dispute;
  5. lay down the general principles to govern conflict resolution between consumers and business;
  6. order the Consumer Protector to record, in the list of adverse notations to be maintained and kept by the Office, the name of the business, the name of person conducting such business and the finding of a Consumer Tribunal in respect of subsection (2)(a), (b) and (c); and
  7. exercise any other powers and perform the functions and duties assigned to it in terms of this Act.

A Consumer Tribunal may –

  • award costs, on the scale to be prescribed or in the amount determined by the Consumer Tribunal, against any person found liable to the consumer by virtue of any unlawful conduct, by conduct or omission in terms of this Act or under any existing law;
  • with regard to a consumer complaint relating to a hard bargain or conduct which the consumer rightly believes to be inequitable, unfair or grossly unreasonable, make a finding to that effect;
  • At the hearing of a consumer complaint, if it is satisfied that the complaint is lodged frivolously or vexatious, award costs against such consumer; and
  • Generally deal with all matters necessary or incidental to the performance of its functions in terms of the Act.