Outcomes of the Competition Commission’s interventions in school uniform procurement from 2010 to 2023

In response to a decade-long stream of complaints from parents regarding anti-competitive practices between schools and school uniform manufacturers/ suppliers, the Competition Commission (Commission) has undertaken a series of interventions to enhance competition in the procurement of school uniform and other learning-related goods and services. These efforts aimed to increase competition in the market and to provide parents and learners with more choices, ensuring that they are not compelled to purchase school uniforms exclusively from selected suppliers. 1.2. The Commission’s interventions included investigations into school uniform procurement as well as advocacy initiatives. Through its investigation, the Commission found that some schools had exclusive supply agreements with specific suppliers and/ or manufactures of school uniform. Following the investigation, the Commission concluded settlement agreements with some of the schools and suppliers and/or manufactures of school uniform. As part of the settlement agreements, the schools and suppliers and/or manufactures of school uniform committed to address the anti-competitive concerns and to improve competition in their procurement practices. The Commission’s advocacy initiatives focused on educating and raising awareness among parents, schools, school governing bodies, business and government about the Guidelines on the procurement of school uniform and other learning-related goods and services (Guidelines) as well as on benefits of competition in the procurement of school uniform and other learning-related goods and services. The Commission’s advocacy initiatives included visits to schools, participation in school governing body meetings and workshops of the governing body associations, engagements with the media and the publication of educational pamphlets. 1.3. In an effort to assess the outcomes of Commission’s interventions in the procurement of school uniform and other learning-related goods and services, the Commission rolled-out a survey targeted at both public and private schools across South Africa. The survey was conducted in 2022 and sought to assess compliance by schools to the Guidelines. 1.4. The purpose of this report is to assess the outcomes of the Commission’s interventions in the procurement of school uniform and other learning-related goods and services.