Earlier this month, the University of Fort Hare’s Faculty of Law marked a historic milestone as it hosted the 1st International Conference on Competition and Consumer Regulation (ICCCR) 2025, the first of its kind for the Faculty.
The three-day conference ( 8- 10 October), themed: Reconnect and Reboot: Embracing the Changing Structure of Competition and Consumer Regulation, was held at the East London International Convention Centre. It attracted a diverse mix of local and international scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and students who gathered to explore the evolving intersections between competition law, consumer protection, and digital transformation.
In his welcome address, Dean of Law, Professor Mzukisi Njotini, described hosting the ICCCR as “an exciting moment for the Faculty of Law of this glorious and historical University.”
He continued: “Not only do we have what promises to be a successful international conference delving on the important aspects relating to Competition and Consumer Regulation, we are also gathered here today to mark the official launch of an esteemed academic and research confederation which will and should serve as a vehicle or catalyst for future scholarly discussions and discoveries in the selected research niche areas.”
A Culmination of a Growing Scholarly Journey
According to Prof Njotini, the ICCCR 2025 is “a culmination of a journey that began with a series of Annual Competition Colloquiums held in 2022 and 2023.” Those early gatherings, he said, “provided an essential platform for dialogue and reflection on emerging trends, regulatory challenges, and best practices in competition law.”
He added that the decision to evolve into an international conference “reflects a shared commitment to building regulatory systems that are not only effective and modern but are also adaptive to the realities of African economies.”
The Dean emphasised that the conference aims to “serve as both a catalyst and a compass, sparking new ideas, strengthening regional and international cooperation, and guiding future efforts to advance fair competition and consumer welfare across the continent and beyond.”
He also reflected on the rapid global changes transforming economies, markets, and consumer behaviour. “The accelerated rise of digital technologies, deepening globalisation, and evolving shifts in economic power transform and amplify commercial dynamics. Nowhere is this transformation more evident, and more consequential, than in the developing world, particularly across the African continent.”
He urged policymakers and scholars to “adapt to global shifts while crafting solutions that reflect local contexts and developmental priorities.”
A Platform for Collaboration and Innovation
Conference Convenor, Ms Lulama Gomomo from the Department of Mercantile Law, noted that the conference theme: Reconnect and Reboot: Embracing the Changing Structure of Competition and Consumer Regulation is both timely and urgent due to developments in these areas of law.
The conference offered delegates an opportunity to deliberate on a wide range of subjects, from contemporary issues in competition regulation, consumer protection, and corporate law to the implications of artificial intelligence on data privacy, algorithmic bias, and liability. Other sessions examined the interplay between competition law and consumer protection, public interest considerations in existing legislation, cartel detection and prosecution, corporate accountability, and advocacy.
Dynamic Panel Discussions
In addition to the groundbreaking research presented during breakaway sessions, the gathering afforded a platform for high-level panel discussions featuring esteemed international and regional experts who shared their insights on the rapidly changing global regulatory environment.
The panel for day two comprised Professor/Dr Cláudio José Franzolin from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas in Brazil, Ms Queen Munyai, Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Goods & Services Ombud (CGSO) in South Africa, Professor Ronald Kakungulu-Mayambala from the University of Makerere in Uganda, Ms Vellah Kedogo Kigwiru from the Technical University of Munich in Germany and Dr Priscilla Njako from the Competition Authority of Kenya.
Panel members for day two were Advocate Vuyani Ngalwana, a senior barrister at the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, Ms Annemieke van der Beek, a partner and head of the EU law and Competition law department, and Professor Waleska Miguel Batista from Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, Brazil.
Their discussions explored pressing issues centered on and linked to the theme.
Celebrating UFH Alumni Leadership
Adding to the conference’s prestige was the participation of distinguished UFH Law alumni who have become influential figures in South Africa’s regulatory landscape.
Ms Nomvuyiso Batyi, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Comms and Technology (ACT) and former ICASA Councillor, delivered one of the keynote addresses. An accomplished regulator and strategist, Ms Batyi hails from the Eastern Cape and holds both an LLB and B Proc from UFH. She titled her address: “Competitiveness and Access to the South African Telecommunications Market”
The second keynote speaker was Mr Andile Mange, Senior Manager for Investigations at the National Consumer Commission and also a proud UFH Law alumnus. In his address, Mange shared a South African perspective on “Enforcement of Consumer Rights in the E-Commerce Sector”
A Step Toward Building the Future of African Regulation
Prof Njotini expressed hope that the conference would ignite sustained scholarly engagement: “The insights emanating from this conference and the upcoming publication will be valuable and mark a giant step towards the attainment of that goal. It is hoped that this will be the first publication of many to reflect on issues pertaining to competition and consumer regulation.”
The Faculty of Law’s inaugural international conference has undoubtedly positioned UFH as a growing thought leader in shaping Africa’s legal and regulatory future.