Informal settlement dwellers take matters into their own hands

Recently, formal institutions and services have begun to emerge in townships, usually through mall-style retail spaces.This has included many financial sector institutions.In doing so, it was expected that the close proximity of banks would lead to an uptake of financial services from the unbanked population based in informal settlements with close proximity to townships. However, the available evidence suggests that this has not occurred, and a number of regulatory barriers have been identified as rendering the use of formal institutions prohibitive for the poor.

Who is brewing my tea? Tea brokers and dominant tea processors

The Kenyan and South African tea cases show that although competition adjudications are made to protect and promote fair competition among companies, competition authorities also protect and promote fair price setting for the benefit of consumers. Consumers should be protected from paying excessive prices for inferior goods, and should be given the freedom to choose from multiple, high quality and innovative products.