South African ticketing site Computicket has been ordered to pay a fine of SAR 20m (£1.1m/€1.3m/$1.4m) for anticompetitive behaviour.
The SA Competition Tribunal found the firm had abused its market dominance between 2005 and 2010, following its use of long-term exclusive agreements to exclude new firms from the distribution market.
After being acquired by Shoprite Checkers in 2005, Computicket’s exclusive contracts changed to a standard three-year period, with the agreements staggered based on when they were signed.
Spokesperson Sipho Ngwenya said the tribunal found that Computicket induced its customers not to deal with competitors.
“We have maintained that their [Computicket] behaviour was anti-competitive, it was exclusive they were forcing their clients to only sign exclusive contracts, and that had an effect particular to new entrants,” Ngwenya said, according to Jacaranda FM.
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