Blocking The Spam 16 Years In The Making

On 15 April 2026, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Mpho Parks Tau MP, gazetted the Consumer Protection Act Amendment Regulations, 2026, (published as Government Notice No. R. 7380 in Government Gazette No. 54521) (“the Notice”). The regulations, made in terms of section 120(1)(a) read with section 11(6) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2008 (“CPA”) and drawn up in consultation with the National Consumer Commission and provincial consumer regulatory authorities, operationalise a long-dormant provision of the Act that enables consumers to register a “pre-emptive block” against unsolicited direct marketing contact. The amendments take effect from the date of publication of the Notice.