New rules rattle online retailers as watchdog acts for small business
Takealot singled out in report
Twenty-five months after initiating an inquiry into websites and search engines, the Competition Commission has made far-reaching recommendations to ensure small businesses can compete in the online retail economy. But it has backtracked on many of the initial measures targeting foreign firms such as Apple, Google and Booking.com.
Naspers-owned Takealot, one of the biggest e-commerce platforms locally, seems to have borne the brunt of the commission’s ire, having been told to separate third-party sales from its own retail division. Splitting the businesses would remove what inquiry chair and economist James Hodge described as “a conflict of interest” presented by its hybrid platform model...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.