NCC welcomes regulations to limit spam calls

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has welcomed new changes to the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 aimed at giving consumers more control over unwanted marketing.

 According to Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau, the amendments introduce an opt-out registry system.  

This allows consumers to block direct marketing either from specific companies or across the entire industry.

Under the new rules, all direct marketers must register with the commission and regularly update their contact lists to remove consumers who have chosen to opt out.

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Spokesperson Phetho Ntaba said registration for both businesses and consumers is set to begin in July, adding that non-compliant companies could face penalties. 

“When it comes to the National Consumer Commission, these regulations actually recognise the NCC as the administrator of the opt-out register system in the Republic of South Africa, meaning that we will be running the system or the registry. We will be enforcing the law. Suppliers or direct marketers who fail to comply with these regulations are actually running the risk of attracting an administrative penalty of up to R1 million or 10% of the direct marketer's annual turnover, whichever is greater," said Ntaba.