The Competition Commission has conducted a search and seizure operation at the Gauteng premises of automotive glass companies’ PG Glass, Glasfit, Shatterprufe and Digicall as part of an investigation into alleged collusion.
PG Glass and Glasfit were automotive glass fitment and repair service providers; Shatterprufe supplied PG Glass and Glasfit with automotive glass, while Digicall processed and administered automotive glass-related insurance claims on behalf of PG Glass and Glasfit.
The operation formed part of the commission’s ongoing investigation into allegations of price fixing and division of markets by PG Glass and Glasfit in the provision of automotive glass fitment and repair services.
The commission believed it had reasonable grounds to suspect that information relevant to the investigation would be found at the premises of the four companies.
In terms of section 48 of the Competition Act, the commission was authorised to enter and search premises and seize documents that had a bearing on an investigation.
The commission obtained a warrant at the High Court of South Africa, North Gauteng division, Pretoria, authorising it to search the companies’ offices.