MoU between FTC and NTC reinforces consumer protection |23 March 2018

The collaboration between the National Consumer Tribunal of South Africa (NTC) and the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) is expected to be strengthened following the signing yesterday of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two institutions.

The signing was done by Francis Lebon, chief executive of the FTC and Professor Joseph Maseko, executive chairperson of NTC, in the presence of John Simpson, a member of the National Consumer Tribunal of South Africa and Peter Larose, the Seychelles Minister for Finance, Trade and Economic Planning, the parent ministry of FTC.

The objectives of the MoU are to create a platform for further training and capacity building of FTC staff and for FTC to gain knowledge from its South African counterpart in all aspects of consumer protection.

Mr Lebon described the signing of this MoU as an invaluable opportunity to establish a functional relationship with an institution dealing and advocating on consumer matters in a jurisdiction from which a lot of their own law provisions are derived.

He added that FTC stands to learn and gain so much from tapping into the wealth, knowledge, experiences and practices of the NTC.

“This MoU signed today will create that platform and also reinforce the collaboration between both our two institutions,” said Mr Lebon.

Professor Maseko said NTC is very grateful to be part of this collaboration and development with FTC as the current development in the fourth industrial revolution, which is the IT side of development, no country is bigger than any other now anymore.

“We are on level ground and you can see even the elites that used to be the elite of information are no longer what they used to be. So we are grateful to be part of the development here at FTC and hope that we will also bring you all to the other side, as we cross-fertilise our cultures and cross-fertilise our abilities and expertise in the different areas,” said Professor Maseko.

It is to be noted this is a second MoU FTC signs with NTC of South Africa but the first in consumer protection.

Also present at yesterday’s signing was Gervais Henrie, elected member of the National Assembly for Mont Buxton district and member of the Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC),  as well as staff members of FTC.