The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), in partnership with the National Consumer Commission (NCC), has issued a stern warning to foreign-owned online shopping platforms operating in South Africa to adhere to local laws and regulations.
This follows concerns about Chinese e-commerce giant Temu, which has been advertising the existence of a South African-based warehouse despite not owning or operating any such facility in the country.
According to the department, Temu began promoting the alleged local warehouse in July, but later clarified that it relies on third-party logistics companies to store and deliver products within South Africa.
DTIC spokesperson Kaamil Alli said the department is closely monitoring Temu’s operations to ensure compliance with South African legislation, including the Consumer Protection Act.
“The operations of Temu naturally have to comply with all the relevant legislation,” said Alli. “As a result of this local warehouse launch, the department will be monitoring these developments and their impact on the domestic retail sector quite closely. It’s a bit tricky at the moment, as no formal complaint has been lodged or received against the firm.”
Alli added that while the NCC has only noted the concerns through media reports, authorities are also tracking similar deceptive practices in other jurisdictions, particularly relating to product quality and safety.
The DTIC emphasised that all international e-commerce platforms must operate transparently and in full compliance with South African consumer protection standards.