Competition Commission of South Africa v Monnye and Khomo Construction CC (CO160Jan22; 2021FEB0014) [2022] ZACT 46; [2022] 1 CPLR 5 (CT) (27 January 2022)

70 Reportability
Competition Law

Brief Summary

Competition Law — Consent Agreement — Confirmation of consent agreement between the Competition Commission and Monnye and Khomo Construction CC regarding collusive tendering — Monnye alleged to have contravened section 4(1)(b)(iii) of the Competition Act — Monnye does not admit liability but agrees to pay an administrative penalty and implement a compliance programme — Tribunal confirms consent agreement as an order.

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SAFLII Note: Certain personal/private details of parties or witnesses have been redacted from this document in
compliance with the law and SAFLII Policy

COMPETITION TRIBUNAL REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Case No: CO160Jan22


In the matter between:

The Competition Commission of South Africa Applicant

And

Monnye and Khomo Construction CC Respondent


Panel: AW Wessels (Presiding Member)
E Daniels (Tribunal Member)
L Mncube (Tribunal Member)

Heard on: 27 January 2022

Decided on: 27 January 2022


CONSENT AGREEMENT


The Tribunal hereby confirms, in terms of section 58(1)(b) of the Competition Act,
89 of 1998 as amended, the consent agreement concluded between the Competition
Commission and Monnye and Khomo Construction CC annexed hereto.

Date: 27 January 2022

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Presiding Member Mr Andreas Wessels

Concurring: Mr Enver Daniels and Dr. Liberty Mncube


IN THE COMPETITION TRIBUNAL OF SOUTH AFRICA

CT CASE NO:
CC CASE NO: 2021FEB0014

In the matter between:


COMPETITION COMMISSION OF SA Applicant

And

MONNYE AND KHOMO CONSTRUCTION CC Respondent


CONSENT AGREEMENT IN TERMS OF SECTION 49D READ WITH SECTION 58(1) (b)
OF THE COMPETITION ACT, NO. 89 OF 1998, AS AMENDED, BETWEEN THE
COMPETITION COMMISSION AND MONNYE AND KHOMO CONSTRUCTION CC, IN
RESPECT OF A CONTRAVENTION OF SECTION 4(1)(b)(iii) OF THE COMPETITION
ACT 89 OF 1998

Preamble

The Competition Commission (“Commission”) and Monnye Khomo Construction CC
(“Monnye”) hereby agree that an application be made to the Competition Tribunal for the
confirmation of this Consent Agreement as an order of the Tribunal in terms of section 49D
read with section 58(1)(b) of the Competition Act no. 89 of 1998, as amended (“the Act”), in
respect of a contravention of section 4(1)(b)(iii) of the Act.

1. DEFINITIONS

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For the purposes of this consent agreement the following definitions shall apply

1.1. “Act” means the Competition Act No. 89 of 1998, as amended.

1.2. “Monnye and Khomo Construction CC” means a close corporation duly registered
in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, with its registered place of
business situated at 12 Botana Office Park, Embankment Road, Centurion.

1.3. “Mokgatshelwa Projects and Trading CC” means a close corporation duly
registered in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, with its registered
place of business situated at 12 Botana Office Park, Embankment Road, Centurion.

1.4. “Commission” means the Competition Commission of South Africa, a statutory body
established in terms of section 19 of the Act, with its principal place of business at 1st Floor,
Mulayo Building (Block C), the DTI Campus, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria,
Gauteng.

1.5. “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of the Competition Commission (the
Commissioner) in terms of section 24(1) of the Act.

1.6. “Consent Agreement” means this agreement duly signed and concluded between the
Commission and Monnye.

1.7. “Gauteng Provincial Treasury” means a Treasury Department for the Gauteng
Province, with its principal place of business at 75 Fox Street, Imbumba, House,
Johannesburg

1.8. “GPT Tender” means tender issued by the Gauteng Provincial Treasury under tender
number: GT/GPT/069/2018 for the supply and delivery of groceries and toiletries to the
Gauteng Provincial Government (“GPG”) Institutions and State Information Technology
Agency (“SITA”).

1.9. “Parties” means the Commission and Monnye.

1.10. “Tribunal” means the Competition Tribunal of South Africa, a statutory body
established in terms of section 26 of the Act, with its principal place of business at the 1st

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Floor, Mulayo building (Block C), the DTI Campus, 77 Meintjies Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria,
Gauteng.

2. COMMISSION’S INVESTIGATION AND FINDINGS

2.1. On 24 February 2021, the Commission received a complaint from the Gauteng
Provincial Treasury (“GPT”) in terms of section 49B(2)(b) of the Competition Act 89 of 1998,
as amended (“the Act”). The GPT alleged that Mokgatshelwa Projects and Trading CC
(“Mokgatshelwa”) and Monnye colluded when tendering for the GPT Tender.

2.2. The GPT Tender was for the supply and delivery of groceries and toiletries to the
GPG Institutions and SITA.

2.3. This complaint was investigated under case number 2016MAR0077.

2.4. The Commission’s investigation found that on or about February 2021, Mokgatshelwa
and Monnye assisted each other when completing tender documents for GT/GPT/069/2018
Tender as evidenced by, inter alia, similarities in in their bid documents including pricing.

2.5. The conduct between Mokgatshelwa and Monnye amounts to collusive tendering in
contravention of section 4(1)(b)(iii) of the Act.

3. ADMISSION

3.1. Monnye does not admit that it has acted in contravention of section 4(1)(b)(iii) of the
Act as described in paragraph 2 above.

3.2. The Commission has agreed to enter into the Consent Agreement without admission
of liability with Monnye based on the following factors:

3.2.1 Monnye is a small firm;

3.2.2 Given the small size of Monnye as well as the small size of the tender, the
Commission does not consider it worthy to engage in protracted and costly litigation with
Monnye;

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3.2.3 Monnye has not won the tender in question; and

3.2.4 Monnye has never contravene the Act before.

4. CO-OPERATION

4.1. Monnye has provided full and expeditious co-operation to the Commission concerning
the prohibited practice.

5. AGREEMENT REGARDING FUTURE CONDUCT

5.1. Monnye undertakes to refrain from engaging in any anti-competitive conduct in
contravention of the Act in future.

5.2. Monnye will develop, implement and monitor a competition law compliance
programme as part of its corporate governance policy, which is designed to ensure that all
its members and board of directors do not engage in future contraventions of the Act. In
particular, such compliance programme will include mechanisms for the identification,
prevention, detection and monitoring and detection of any contraventions of the Act.

5.3. Monnye shall circulate a statement summarising the contents of this Consent
Agreement to all its members and board of directors within 60 (sixty) business days from the
date of confirmation of this Consent Agreement by the Tribunal.

6. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY

6.1. Monnye agrees that it is liable to pay an administrative penalty of R71 225 (Seventy-
One Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-Five Rand). This amount does not exceed
10% of Monnye’s annual turnover for the financial year ending February 2021

6.2. Monnye will pay R71 225 (Seventy-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-
Five Rand) to the Commission within 6 months in two equal instalments after the
confirmation of the Consent Agreement as an order of the Tribunal. The first payment to be
made within 30 (thirty) days after confirmation of the settlement agreement as an order of
the Tribunal.

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6.3. The payment shall be made into the Commission’s bank account, details of which are
as follows:

Bank name: Absa Bank

Branch name: Pretoria

Account holder: Competition Commission Fees
Account Account number: [….]
Account type: Current Account
Branch Code: 632005
Reference: 2021FEB0014/MONNYE

6.4. The penalty will be paid over by the Commission to the National Revenue Fund in
accordance with section 59(4) of the Act.

7. MONITORING

7.1. Monnye undertakes to submit a copy of the compliance programme referred to in
clause 5.2 to the Commission within 60 calendar days of the date of confirmation of this
Consent Agreement as an order to the Tribunal.

7.2. All reports in relation to conditions set out in this agreement, including but not limited to
compliance programmes, proof of payment(s) etc, shall be submitted to the Commission at
CartelSettlements@compcom.co.za.

8. FULL AND FINAL SETTLEMENT

8.1. This Consent Agreement is entered into in full and final settlement of the
Commission’s investigation under case number: 2021FEB0014 and upon confirmation as
an order of the Tribunal, concludes all proceedings between the Commission and Monnye
relating to the conduct that is the subject of the Commission’s investigation under case
number: 2021FEB0014.

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Dated and signed at _Midrand on the _6t h day of _December 2021.

FOR THE COMMISSION:

TEMBINKOSI BONAKELE
Commissioner


Dated and signed at PRETORIA on the _14 day of _DECEMBER 2021.