SAPS mask supplier found guilty of excessive pricing, fined R3.4m

The Competition Tribunal has found Tsutsumani Business Enterprises CC excessively charged the South African Police Service (SAPS) for face masks. The supply was for 500 000 masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020.

A penalty of more than R3.4 million for Tsutsumani

SAPS ordered the 3-ply surgical masks from Tsutsumani at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak in South Africa. Tsutsumani was not only found guilty by the tribunal but they were also fined an administrative penalty of R3.4 million.

The R3 441 689,10 has to be paid within 30 working days, according to the order. The Tribunal further concluded that Tsutsumani exploited its dominance in the face masks market during that period. 

Tsutsumani was registered on the National Treasury’s Central Supplier Database and met the SAPS’ requirements request for urgent quotations in a short space of time.

“Tsutsumani accordingly acted in contravention of section 8(1)(a) of the Act, read with Regulation 4 of Consumer Protection Regulations as alleged by the Competition Commission in its complaint referral,”

Competition Tribunal’s statement

First-ever pandemic tender process case taken to court

The Tribunal explained that this was the first case to be taken to court for excessive pricing in the area of tender processes during the pandemic. Tsutsumani was accused by the commission of excessive charges from 5 April to 29 April.

Tsutsunami has denied the allegations of excessive pricing, reports The Citizen.

Alleged drug dealer on the run after firing shots at SAPS in Limpopo

A media statement from the South African Police Service (SAPS) revealed that police officers based in Polokwane have begun to search for a suspected drug dealer who was previously sighted at Savannah Mall. 

The police attempted to engage with the suspect on Monday 25 April 2022, which ultimately led to a shootout between the suspect and officers on site. 

Information of a male allegedly selling drugs from a Mazda sedan reached members of the Limpopo Highway Patrol (LHP). Armed with this information officials made their way to the location provided before spotting the described vehicle. Read the full story here.