COMPETITION PROBE
Spotlight on ‘price fixing’ in books industry
This price-fixing arrangement appears to be historic, dating back as far as the 1980s
The Competition Commission has launched a probe into claims that the Publishers’ Association of SA (Pasa) and its more than 91 members have been fixing book prices for decades. The commission said information indicates that Pasa and its members allegedly agreed to fix prices for a wide range of books, including pre-school to grade 12 textbooks, student textbooks and other learning materials, teachers’ guides, electronic books and books for sale to the general public. This price-fixing arrangement appears to be historic, dating back as far as the 1980s, the commission said. "Given how widespread the practice is and the importance of the products, we expect the participants to co-operate with the investigation by, among other things, immediately bringing their cartel activities to a stop and approaching the Competition Commission," said commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele. Pasa could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. This comes as parliament’s economic development committee contin...
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