BONTAS DIE HEL IN WITH SPAZAS

BONTEHUEWEL mense are die hel in with spaza shops demanding unauthorised surcharges added to purchases made using bank cards.

The Consumer Goods and Services Ombudsman (CGSO) has confirmed that it is unlawful for spaza shop owners to charge customers extra for choosing card payments over cash.

CGSO Ombud Lee Soobrathi said the practice contravenes Section 23 of the Consumer Protection Act, which governs fair pricing.

Soobrathi says: “If I’m a customer buying a service or product, it must be clearly priced and I must pay that price.

“If a product is labelled R10 and I opt to pay by card, the shop cannot charge me R12 just because I’m not using cash. That’s not allowed.”

Bontas Ward Councillor Angus McKenzie said he had received several complaints and engaged with the Somali Business Association (SBA) to get clarity.

He says: “I called a meeting with the SBA and asked about the legalities. They admitted to the charges and explained that the fees are due to the payment apps they use. They are charged R2.50 per transaction, which they pass on to customers.

“It’s not that they’re pocketing the fee, but the important thing is that we’ve started a conversation.”

SBA chairperson Nuur Allie confirmed that spaza shops charge an additional R2.50 to R5 when customers use cards to buy electricity or airtime, but agreed to stop the practice.

However, he added that withdrawal charges will continue, at R2.50 for amounts below R100 and R5 for amounts over R100.”