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MBABANE – Spar, Pick n Pay, Boxer Stores, OK Foods and Shoprite have been ordered by the ESCC to stop wholesaling bread from their in-house bakeries after being found operating without the necessary licences.
The Eswatini Competition Commission’s (ESCC) investigation — prompted by a complaint from Linkengane Investments (Pty) Ltd — revealed that the supermarkets were in breach of the Trading Licences Regulations of 1975 by selling bread on a wholesale basis beyond the scope of their trading licences.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, the ESCC issued immediate cease-and-desist orders and conducted targeted training sessions for the implicated companies.
The training covered competition law and licensing obligations and the commission warned that repeat violations could attract severe penalties.
“Through coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, the ESCC confirmed that the implicated retailers were operating beyond the scope of their licences,” said ESCC Manager for Cartels and Enforcement, Nolwazi Kunene.
As part of its broader enforcement and education drive, the ESCC trained members of the Eswatini Bankers Association (EBA) on competition compliance.
The session, held at Business Eswatini in Emafini, attracted participants from First National Bank, EswatiniBank, Standard Bank, Eswatini Building Society and Nedbank.
The training addressed cartel detection, merger control and the use of strategic research in competition enforcement and policy development — all aimed at strengthening compliance within the financial sector.
In a separate initiative, the ESCC joined the Municipal Council of Mbabane and other agencies in a large-scale inspection targeting food safety ahead of World Food Safety Day.
The operation covered groceries, supermarkets, butcheries, and restaurants in Msunduza township and surrounding areas.
Full article available in our paper.
Advocacy and Communications Manager at ESCC Mancoba Mabuza. (Pic: File)