OUR WORK

In October 2024, the FairPlay movement celebrates eight years of fighting against predatory trade practices such as dumping and fighting for the jobs and livelihoods of the workers and communities impacted by dumping.

FairPlay was founded in 2016 as huge volumes of dumped chicken imports imperilled the South African poultry industry and thousands of jobs.

FairPlay is a non-profit movement that supports free trade and the rule of law, but advocates an end to the illegal and immoral trade practice of dumping, worldwide and in all industries. Dumping kills jobs, usually in poverty-stricken areas, while middlemen make millions.

In South Africa, FairPlay has partnered with the chicken and sugar industries, which were under threat because of trade dumping and government inaction. Both of these strategic industries are now supported by government-led master plans that aim to curb imports and create jobs by expanding local production.

FairPlay has become recognised as a voice against dumping and in support of fair trade and the poor communities where jobs are threatened. It is active in traditional and social media.

We have marched with retrenched poultry industry workers and their bosses to the European Union offices in South Africa.  We have marched with sugar producers and black sugar farmers to the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry. We have marched with trade unions to the offices of SARS against illicit trade practices.  

In addition to a consistent and concerted focus on the damage done by dumping and unfair and illegal trade, we have highlighted issues such as food safety, food security and the potential for sugar as an energy source.

Since 2018, we have campaigned for the removal of value-added tax (VAT) from the chicken portions most consumed by poor people. The need is now even greater, due to rising prices and ever-rising unemployment. FairPlay is supporting the application for VAT-free chicken being launched by the SA Poultry Association and backed by chicken importers.

FairPlay has become a credible voice in South Africa, Africa and increasingly, internationally. From cement to potatoes, more industry sectors recognise the need to stop predatory trade. FairPlay will continue aggressively to press the case against predatory trade locally, globally and across industry sectors.