Solutions sought for rejected Netcare fine

The Competition Tribunal has rejected the R6 million Netcare fine

Competition Commission Chief Legal Counsel Mark Worsley has mooted two possibilities following the rejection by the Competition Tribunal of a proposed R6 million fine imposed on Netcare and the Community Health Care group (CHG). The fine imposed for anti-competitive practices was rejected on the grounds that it was too low.

Netcare agreed to pay the penalty arising from the commission's findings that it had bought a controlling stake in CHG without notifying the commission. However the tribunal has ruled that the proposed amount is not enough.

Worsley says they could try to renegotiate the penalty. "The other alternative would be for Netcare to challenge the decision in the Tribunal decision in the Competitive Appeal Court," says Worsley.