I have written many times emphasising the value of stakeholder engagement, but the proof truly lies in our action and engagement with stakeholders.
This emphasis is critical in demonstrating the Competition Commission’s recommitment to accessibility, transparency and accountability. Recently, the commission, in partnership with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), hosted a forum in Johannesburg allowing collaborators to jointly reflect on the perceptions and application of competition regulation in the country.
The dialogue is one of many and aims to foster open conversations on “what should be the focus for competition law given SA’s low-growth situation.”
The panellists included our chief economist and acting deputy commissioner James Hodge, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa Busisiwe Mavuso, regional leader for the Competition, Marketing and Foreign Investment Practice Group at FASKEN, Leana Engelbrecht, and GIBS professor of economics, finance & strategy Adrian Saville.
The forum, moderated by the dean of GIBS, Prof Morris Mthombeni, delved deeper into the application of competition law and debated how it could become more responsive to the country’s current economic context while aligning with the policy objectives of the seventh administration.
There has been narrow debates in the last year and a half about the role of the competition authorities with some critiques of what we are doing as a competition authority. Addressing the critiques, Hodge deftly explained and highlighted many applauds we have received from industry players, for some of the work we have done to grow the economy, prompt a more competitive economy, and reduce the cost of living.