The Competition Commission of South Africa has launched an Online Intermediation Platform Market Inquiry into digital platforms operating in South Africa.
The Inquiry scope covers all online intermediation platforms that facilitate transactions between businesses and consumers for the sale of goods, services, and software.
This includes sales concluded on the platform or the generation of sales leads. Online intermediation platforms include eCommerce marketplaces, online classified marketplaces, software application stores and intermediated services such as accommodation (e.g. Booking.com, Airbnb etc.) , travel, transport, and food delivery platforms.
The inquiry is broadly focused on three areas of competition and public interest, namely:
- Market features that may hinder competition amongst the platforms themselves
- Market features that may give rise to discriminatory or exploitative treatment of business users
- Market features that may negatively impact on the participation of SMEs and/or HDP firms.
This questionnaire will help the Commission understand the experience of accommodation providers using online intermediation platforms in South Africa. It is your opportunity to engage your concerns with the Commission who at the end of this process may make legally binding recommendations that will apply to the travel and accommodation sector.
Please complete the questionnaire and/or narrate any concerns that you may have in relation to the online accommodation booking sector and send directly via email to Sivuyise Mtiki at sivuyisem@compcom.co.za by no later than 7 October 2021.
For more information, see https://www.compcom.co.za/online-intermediation-platforms-market-inquiry/ .
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