The Competition Tribunal is on Thursday due to confirm an immunity agreement JSE-listed construction group Aveng struck with the Competition Commission, but first wants more information before making a ruling. This will most likely see the firm avoid paying a multimillion-rand administrative penalty. Crucially, Aveng needs the tribunal’s decision to obtain protection against possible civil litigation from state-owned entities for which it has done work. "The agreement would give Aveng immunity from an administrative penalty," the tribunal confirmed on Wednesday. The commission has been cracking down on collusion across many sectors, with Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel increasingly taking a hard line on companies. Several state entities including the City of Cape Town, have threatened civil action against construction companies accused of collusion. Seven of SA’s major construction and engineering companies agreed last week to participate in a R1.5bn "voluntary" settleme...
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