South Africa To Probe Steep Increase In Ginger & Garlic Prices

Spokesperson for the South Africa Competition Commission Siyabulela Makunga said the Commission’s are calling on the public to make use of their SMS and WhatsApp hotline to report price gouging. 

The Competition Commission announced it will be investigating the exorbitant prices of ginger and garlic in the food retail market.  The Commission is warning retailers to refrain from increasing these food items.  

Over the past few weeks, prices of lemon, ginger, and garlic have skyrocketed by more than 300%,  as they are said to help fight COVID-19 related illness.   

The Commission stated that it has received complaints from consumers and will be investigating the complaints seriously.  

“We have noted with concern the public outcry on social media the prices of garlic and ginger. We also appreciate the changes in demand for garlic and ginger but it is our view the price of ginger and garlic have increased astronomically at retailers. We don’t think that the increased demand in ginger justified the price of up to R400 a kilogram. The Commission has been monitoring food prices since the beginning of the pandemic and we are following up on the complaints that we have received thus far and with sufficient evidence we are likely to investigate and prosecute cases,” said Makunga.

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