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Dis-Chem

Controversies

Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.

Back to profile4 entries

  1. 2020

    COVID-19 hygiene-product pricing case

    South Africa's Competition Commission pursued Dis-Chem over alleged excessive pricing of certain hygiene products, including disposable face masks, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Competition Tribunal imposed a R1.2 million administrative penalty. Dis-Chem did not appeal the decision, citing reputational concerns.

    Source

  2. 2020

    Dis-Chem apologizes over blackface mannequin display

    Company response

    Dis-Chem apologized after a mannequin with a blackface appearance was displayed as part of a beauty fair promotion at its Killarney Mall branch in Johannesburg. The company said the display was unauthorized and that it was investigating; photographs of the display sparked social media outrage.

    Company response

    • Apology — Dis-Chem

      Dis-Chem has issued an apology for the black face mannequin which appeared as part of an “unauthorised” display promoting the brand's beauty fair in its Killarney Mall, Johannesburg, branch on Friday morning.

    • Investigation — Dis-Chem

      “We sincerely apologise, this is an ongoing investigation but we can confirm so far our initial investigation shows that this was an isolated incident with no malice or disrespect intended.”

    Source excerpt

    • “We sincerely apologise, this is an ongoing investigation but we can confirm so far our initial investigation shows that this was an isolated incident with no malice or disrespect intended.”
    • Dis-Chem has issued an apology for the black face mannequin which appeared as part of an “unauthorised” display promoting the brand's beauty fair in its Killarney Mall, Johannesburg, branch on Friday morning.
    • Photographs of the white mannequin with its face tinted to give it a black face appearance sparked outrage on social media.
    Source

  3. 2020

    Competition Tribunal fines Dis-Chem R1.2 million over surgical-mask pricing

    Fine or penalty

    South Africa's Competition Tribunal fined Dis-Chem R1.2 million after finding the pharmacy group guilty of excessively pricing surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tribunal found that Dis-Chem had not shown its price increases were reasonable.

    Source excerpt

    • Dis-Chem was slapped with a R1.2 million fine for excessively overpricing surgical masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
    • The Tribunal has found that Dis-chem failed to show that its price increases were reasonable.
    • This comes after the Competition Tribunal found the pharmacy group guilty following complaints registered by the public.
    Source

  4. 2020

    Dis-Chem fined for surgical-mask price gouging

    Fine or penalty

    South Africa’s Competition Tribunal found Dis-Chem guilty of price gouging on three types of surgical face masks and fined the pharmacy chain R1.2 million.

    Source excerpt

    • But the tribunal nevertheless ruled that the pharmacy chain contravened the Competition Act by charging excessive prices for three types of surgical face masks - SFM 50, SFM 5 and Folio50 – which was to the detriment of consumers during March.
    • Pharmacy chain Dis-Chem has been found guilty by the Competition Tribunal of price gouging, and fined R1.2 million, for hiking the cost of surgical face masks at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
    • The Competition Tribunal (the Tribunal) has found Dis-Chem Pharmacies Limited (Dis-Chem) guilty of charging excessive prices for surgical face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Source