Date: 26/01/05
Source: Department of Trade and Industry
Title: Hendricks: Consumer Awards Speech
Good morning and welcome to this media briefing to mark the launch of the forthcoming 2005 Consumer Awards.
On 15 March we celebrate World Consumer Rights Day - a day on which consumer organisations and governments worldwide endorse and re-commit themselves to the guidelines for consumer protection, which were adopted by the United Nations in 1985. To celebrate this significant day, the dti will host its fourth annual awards for consumer champions. What will make this day even more memorable is that we are hosting the awards at the new dti campus for the first time.
The theme for the awards is “consumer approved” - a definite endorsement by the dti of the vital role that consumers play in the advancement of our economy.
the dti Consumer Awards, formerly known as the National Awards for Excellence in Consumer Protection, recognise individuals and organisations for their consistent efforts to advance and promote consumer interests. They are also intended to create awareness about consumer protection, highlight consumer rights and responsibilities, and encourage high standards of service.
I have no doubt that by creating a public platform to acknowledge the importance of consumer issues, the awards will contribute to consumer empowerment. The key issue here is the importance of developing a consumer voice and through the awards we are creating a platform for consumer champions to raise their voices.
Legislation and regulation cannot substitute for action by individual consumers or consumer champions. However, it is difficult for individual consumers to make their views known and their voices heard. The draft Consumer Policy recognizes the importance of giving consumers a voice. It highlights the importance of creating conditions that include basic rights for consumers, the knowledge of these rights and the recourse available to them as well as confidence that they will be able to achieve redress and access to information. The policy will be adopted shortly and will form the basis for the draft national consumer legislation.
As consumers yourselves, it should come as no surprise to you that a survey into the basic rights of consumers commissioned by the dti in 2004 revealed that over 85% of respondents wanted more information on their rights as consumers. Some respondents were not even aware what consumer rights are. This for me reflects a great need for information on consumer rights and consumer organisations and the need to create clear rights for consumers, hence the consumer policy. It is in the same spirit that the dti awards for consumer champions were conceptualised to continue to recognise and encourage efforts by individuals and organisations to advance consumer education and protection.
Hosting awards of this nature affords us the opportunity as government to acknowledge the achievements of those individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to consumer protection - to which government is firmly committed.
We are in our fourth year of staging these awards, and as government we are constantly encouraged by the growth that the awards have experienced. This would not have been possible without public involvement, which is spurred by media publicity. I want to thank the public for their participation and yourselves for your continued publicity and promotion of consumerism. I want to call on the media and the public to continue to support our efforts to serve the best interests of consumers by presenting these awards.
This year's awards will be approached in a slightly different manner. Previously we called on the public to nominate consumer champions in the four categories, i.e. Individual Consumer Champion, Organisational Champion, Consumer Journalist and Non-Profit Representative Organisation. An adjudication panel would then evaluate all of the nominations received and select a winner and runners-up in each category.
This year however, a panel of adjudicators will nominate three consumer champions per category. Nominees from the media and selected consumer bodies will also be solicited. The nominees will be profiled and publicised and the public will be afforded the opportunity to vote for their consumer champions.
The panel was selected for their knowledge of international best practices and service standards, as well as their dedicated commitment to consumer protection. The panel for 2005 comprises Dr Snuki Zikalala, Mr David Moshapalo, Ms Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu, Mr Achmed Mayet, and Adv Brenda Madumise.
The panel of judges epitomises consumerism in South Africa. Each one of them is an exceptional champion of consumer rights in their various fields of expertise, and their collective experience can only benefit this year's awards. The ultimate winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony Gala Dinner on 15 March 2005.
Let me conclude by thanking you for your continued support of our consumer initiatives. Media publicity and support for consumerism is “the fourth estate” in the truest sense of the word - it is essential to assist government in building an informed and vigorous civil society through a dialogue between government and the public.
I would like to use this opportunity to invite South African consumers to express their consumer rights and display their collective clout by voting for their consumer champions. Thank you.
Ends…..
Source: Department of Trade and Industry
Title: Hendricks: Consumer Awards Speech
Good morning and welcome to this media briefing to mark the launch of the forthcoming 2005 Consumer Awards.
On 15 March we celebrate World Consumer Rights Day - a day on which consumer organisations and governments worldwide endorse and re-commit themselves to the guidelines for consumer protection, which were adopted by the United Nations in 1985. To celebrate this significant day, the dti will host its fourth annual awards for consumer champions. What will make this day even more memorable is that we are hosting the awards at the new dti campus for the first time.
The theme for the awards is “consumer approved” - a definite endorsement by the dti of the vital role that consumers play in the advancement of our economy.
the dti Consumer Awards, formerly known as the National Awards for Excellence in Consumer Protection, recognise individuals and organisations for their consistent efforts to advance and promote consumer interests. They are also intended to create awareness about consumer protection, highlight consumer rights and responsibilities, and encourage high standards of service.
I have no doubt that by creating a public platform to acknowledge the importance of consumer issues, the awards will contribute to consumer empowerment. The key issue here is the importance of developing a consumer voice and through the awards we are creating a platform for consumer champions to raise their voices.
Legislation and regulation cannot substitute for action by individual consumers or consumer champions. However, it is difficult for individual consumers to make their views known and their voices heard. The draft Consumer Policy recognizes the importance of giving consumers a voice. It highlights the importance of creating conditions that include basic rights for consumers, the knowledge of these rights and the recourse available to them as well as confidence that they will be able to achieve redress and access to information. The policy will be adopted shortly and will form the basis for the draft national consumer legislation.
As consumers yourselves, it should come as no surprise to you that a survey into the basic rights of consumers commissioned by the dti in 2004 revealed that over 85% of respondents wanted more information on their rights as consumers. Some respondents were not even aware what consumer rights are. This for me reflects a great need for information on consumer rights and consumer organisations and the need to create clear rights for consumers, hence the consumer policy. It is in the same spirit that the dti awards for consumer champions were conceptualised to continue to recognise and encourage efforts by individuals and organisations to advance consumer education and protection.
Hosting awards of this nature affords us the opportunity as government to acknowledge the achievements of those individuals and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to consumer protection - to which government is firmly committed.
We are in our fourth year of staging these awards, and as government we are constantly encouraged by the growth that the awards have experienced. This would not have been possible without public involvement, which is spurred by media publicity. I want to thank the public for their participation and yourselves for your continued publicity and promotion of consumerism. I want to call on the media and the public to continue to support our efforts to serve the best interests of consumers by presenting these awards.
This year's awards will be approached in a slightly different manner. Previously we called on the public to nominate consumer champions in the four categories, i.e. Individual Consumer Champion, Organisational Champion, Consumer Journalist and Non-Profit Representative Organisation. An adjudication panel would then evaluate all of the nominations received and select a winner and runners-up in each category.
This year however, a panel of adjudicators will nominate three consumer champions per category. Nominees from the media and selected consumer bodies will also be solicited. The nominees will be profiled and publicised and the public will be afforded the opportunity to vote for their consumer champions.
The panel was selected for their knowledge of international best practices and service standards, as well as their dedicated commitment to consumer protection. The panel for 2005 comprises Dr Snuki Zikalala, Mr David Moshapalo, Ms Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu, Mr Achmed Mayet, and Adv Brenda Madumise.
The panel of judges epitomises consumerism in South Africa. Each one of them is an exceptional champion of consumer rights in their various fields of expertise, and their collective experience can only benefit this year's awards. The ultimate winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony Gala Dinner on 15 March 2005.
Let me conclude by thanking you for your continued support of our consumer initiatives. Media publicity and support for consumerism is “the fourth estate” in the truest sense of the word - it is essential to assist government in building an informed and vigorous civil society through a dialogue between government and the public.
I would like to use this opportunity to invite South African consumers to express their consumer rights and display their collective clout by voting for their consumer champions. Thank you.
Ends…..
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