10/06/2026
Consumer’s rights to safe, good quality goods - Section 55 of the Consumer Protection Act, 68 of 2008.
Every consumer that pays for and receives goods from a supplier has a right to receive good quality goods.
The goods must, if bought in the ordinary course of the supplier’s business:
➢ Be reasonably suitable for the purpose for which they are intended;
➢ Be of good quality, in good working order and free of any defects;
➢ Be usable and durable for a reasonable period subject to the use and surrounding circumstances of their supply; and
➢ Comply with standards set out in the Standard Act, 1993 or any other public regulation.
Goods such as a vehicle may have latent (invisible) or patent (visible) defects when it is supplied. The Act does not absolve the supplier of their responsibility to ensure that the goods supplied meet these requirements. A consumer does not waive their right to good quality and safe goods on the grounds that the goods were supplied with latent or patent defects or that the consumer could have reasonably detected those defects before taking the delivery of those goods.
An exception applies if it was expressly communicated to the supplier that the goods were offered in a specific condition, and the consumer has agreed to accept the goods in that condition.
NB: The information provided here is for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice.
To lodge a consumer complaint or make an enquiry you may call the Office of the Consumer Protector Sharecall: 0860 007 255 / [email protected]
