Competition Tribunal

The Competition Tribunal is a quasi-judicial body in South Africa that adjudicates matters arising under the Competition Act. It operates as an independent statutory institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases involving mergers, acquisitions, prohibited practices and other competition law matters referred to it by the Competition Commission or brought directly by parties. The Tribunal has the power to approve, prohibit or conditionally approve mergers and acquisitions, and to impose penalties for contraventions of competition law. It is composed of a chairperson, deputy chairperson and other members appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Hearings before the Tribunal are conducted in a court-like setting, with parties represented by legal counsel and evidence presented under oath. The Tribunal's decisions are subject to appeal to the Competition Appeal Court. It sits within the broader competition law framework overseen by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, working alongside the Competition Commission to promote and maintain competition in the South African economy. The Tribunal was established following the enactment of the Competition Act in 1998, which introduced a comprehensive competition law regime to replace apartheid-era economic regulation.