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Pretoria - The Competition Tribunal on Tuesday said government departments had until April 14 to submit their witness statements with regards to the proposed Walmart/Massmart transaction.
This came after the department of economic development, department of trade and industry and department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries requested a postponement of the hearing.
The tribunal said the planned hearing, which kicked off on Tuesday, would still continue through to Friday.
Walmart and Massmart were given until April 21 to file a statement in response to the government statements.
In addition to the four days this week, subsequent hearings will resume on May 9, 10 and 13.
Evidence from economic witnesses will take place in May.
In November, global giant Walmart made a R16.5bn cash offer to acquire 51% of consumer good distributor Massmart at R148 per Massmart share - a smaller stake than the initial 100% offer in September, but one that will see Massmart retain its listing on the JSE.
The tribunal hearing follows the Competition Commission's approval that the deal be approved without conditions.
Cosatu and the South Africa Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) were in full force on Tuesday, chanting and singing as the Competition Tribunal hearing kicked off in Pretoria.
Earlier in the day, the unions warned that they would demand that the tribunal protect the local economy and reject Walmart's unconditional entry into the country.
Unions have been vehemently opposed to the global heavyweight's arrival on the local retail scene
Saccawu formed an Anti-Walmart coalition last year, consisting of various trade unions such as Cosatu, social movements and other civil society organisations.
Despite numerous assurances from both Walmart and Massmart that they would continue to honour all existing union agreements and South African labour law should the proposed transaction be successfully concluded, unions remain stubbornly opposed to the mega-deal.
"We will tell the Competition Tribunal that we believe it is not in the best interest of SA for Walmart to be allowed into our country. We will also outline the conditions that must apply in the event that the tribunal believes differently and or otherwise rules that the company may enter. Those conditions must contain protections for workers, suppliers, and the wider South African community," said Saccawu general secretary Bones Skulu on Tuesday.
This came after the department of economic development, department of trade and industry and department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries requested a postponement of the hearing.
The tribunal said the planned hearing, which kicked off on Tuesday, would still continue through to Friday.
Walmart and Massmart were given until April 21 to file a statement in response to the government statements.
In addition to the four days this week, subsequent hearings will resume on May 9, 10 and 13.
Evidence from economic witnesses will take place in May.
In November, global giant Walmart made a R16.5bn cash offer to acquire 51% of consumer good distributor Massmart at R148 per Massmart share - a smaller stake than the initial 100% offer in September, but one that will see Massmart retain its listing on the JSE.
The tribunal hearing follows the Competition Commission's approval that the deal be approved without conditions.
Cosatu and the South Africa Commercial, Catering and Allied Workers Union (Saccawu) were in full force on Tuesday, chanting and singing as the Competition Tribunal hearing kicked off in Pretoria.
Earlier in the day, the unions warned that they would demand that the tribunal protect the local economy and reject Walmart's unconditional entry into the country.
Unions have been vehemently opposed to the global heavyweight's arrival on the local retail scene
Saccawu formed an Anti-Walmart coalition last year, consisting of various trade unions such as Cosatu, social movements and other civil society organisations.
Despite numerous assurances from both Walmart and Massmart that they would continue to honour all existing union agreements and South African labour law should the proposed transaction be successfully concluded, unions remain stubbornly opposed to the mega-deal.
"We will tell the Competition Tribunal that we believe it is not in the best interest of SA for Walmart to be allowed into our country. We will also outline the conditions that must apply in the event that the tribunal believes differently and or otherwise rules that the company may enter. Those conditions must contain protections for workers, suppliers, and the wider South African community," said Saccawu general secretary Bones Skulu on Tuesday.
