Earlier this year the National Consumer Commission served a compliance notice on MultiChoice for various alleged infrigements of the National Consumer Act. However, the legislation requires the National Consumer Commission to first consult with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) before serving any compliance notice on any broadcaster. The National Consumer Commission didn't do that.
The National Consumer Tribunal found that the National Consumer Commission - where the National Consumer Commissioner Mamodupi Mohlala is now also out the door - failed to properly consult with Icasa before serving a notice on MultiChoice.
Part of the compliance notice which the National Consumer Commission served, was the misguided and extremely ill-informed order from the Commission to MultiChoice for so-called "unbundling" of channels. The Commission which doesn't understand pay television economics, wanted MultiChoice to sell TV channels individually to subscribers instead of the current bouquets.
MultiChoice had no comment.
