Price Gouging Widespread in Durban

Officials in Durban have surveyed local hotel accommodations and found that more than half are planning to boost their prices by 50% or more.

This is the second highest in the country after Gauteng with 65 percent, the survey commissioned by South African Tourism has revealed.

"This is not too good," Gerhard Patzer, the chairman of the region's Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa (Fedhasa), said last night.

However, Patzer believes that many of the hotels, guest houses and B&Bs charging more than 50 percent of their highest rack rate (the price, inclusive of VAT, charged to the public before any discount) would not get their price.

2010 price gouging in Durban
Daily News
March 31, 2010