Chair, the ACDP welcomes the Competition Commission's probe into suspected anticompetitive behaviour by four big supermarket groups. The spokesperson for Grain SA is reported to have said, and I quote: "There's a big difference between what farmers get and what consumers pay."
He said that between April 2008 and April 2009, the price of wheat came down by 32%, while the price of brown bread went up by 23%. This, we believe, does not make sense and should not be allowed to carry on.
What concerns us is that greed amongst some food providers is pushing the prices of the most basic foods, such as milk, bread, maize meal and meat, beyond the reach of the poor among us. We know that there are too many poor people in our country who can no longer afford even basic food, because food prices are exorbitantly high.
The ACDP therefore appeals to the Competition Commission to impose the strictest penalty possible with the hope that collusive business practices among supermarkets will be stopped immediately. Members of the public must benefit from any reduction in prices. Thank you. [Applause.]