COMPETITION TRIBUNAL OF SOUTH AFRICA
Case No.: CR189Mar22/STR04Jun25
In the application to strike out between:
META PLATFORMS INC. First Applicant
WHATSAPP INC. Second Applicant
FACEBOOK SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD Third Applicant
and
GOVCHAT (PTY) LDT First Respondent
HASHTAG LETSTALK (PTY) LTD Second Respondent
In re: the matter between:
COMPETITION COMMISSION Applicant
and
META PLATFORMS INC. First Respondent
WHATSAPP INC. Second Respondent
FACEBOOK SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD Third Respondent
GOVCHAT (PTY) LDT First Intervenor
HASHTAG LETSTALK (PTY) LTD Second Intervenor
Second Intervenor
Panel: G Budlender (Presiding Member)
T Vilakazi (Tribunal Member)
I Valodia (Tribunal Member)
Heard on: 03 December 2025
Order Issued on: 27 January 2026
ORDER
Having read the papers filed in application CR189Mar22/STR04Jun25, having
heard argument from the parties, and having considered submissions by the
parties, the Tribunal orders as follows:
1. The application to strike out: (i) paragraphs 11 to 185, and 187 to 189 of the
witness statement of Mr Bradley Sacks filed in Case No: CR189Mar22 on 5
May 2025; and; (ii) paragraphs 2 to 5 of the witness statement of Ms Tandi Haslam
filed in Case No: CR189Mar22 on 5 May 2025, is dismissed.
2. There is no order as to costs.
Signed by:Geoff Budlender
Signed at:2026-01-27 11:16:21 +02:00
Reason:Witnessing Geoff Budlender
Date
27 January 2026
Adv. Geoff Budlender SC
Concurring: Prof. Imraan Valodia and Prof. Thando Vilakazi
Tribunal Case Managers: Andriza
Liebenberg, Tarryn Sampson, and
Theresho Galane
For Meta Platforms Inc.,
WhatsApp Inc., and Facebook
South Africa (Pty) Ltd: Jerome Wilson SC and Lerato Zikalala instructed
by Derek Lotter and Claire Reidy of Bowmans
For GovChat (Pty) Ltd and
Hashtag Letstalk (Pty) Ltd: Paul Farlam SC and Luke Kelly instructed by
Shawn van der Meulen of Webber Wentzel