Redress for consumers in terms of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 : a comparative discussion

Abstract

The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 is a groundbreaking piece of legislation in the realm of not only South African consumer law but also the South African law of contract. What is more, the Act also has worldwide implications as foreign companies selling goods and services in South African consumer markets will have to comply with the new legislation. In Part 1 of this paper, the avenues of redress available to the consumer in terms of the Act and the possible practical problems pertaining thereto are discussed. Part 2 deals with redress for consumers in terms of the European Union and relevant aspects of redress in the Spanish legal system. Part 3 is a comparative conclusion with regards to redress issues for consumers generally.