Money29 October 2026

Fees not on the menu cost Braai Block R1m. What it means for your bill

Braai Block must pay a R1 million fine for adding a varying service fee that wasn't in its menu prices, after the National Consumer Tribunal dismissed its appeal. Here's what the law says and where to complain.

By Reported Team

A restaurant customer pays his bill on a card machine held out by a waiter — Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels (Pexels Licence)

A restaurant can't make you pay more than the price on its menu. That rule has now cost Gauteng fast-food chain Braai Block R1 million, after the National Consumer Tribunal threw out its last attempt to escape the fine (News24).

Braai Block added a service fee to every transaction, and the fee changed with the price of the meal. It wasn't included in the prices on its menus (Tribunal ruling, December 2024).

What did Braai Block do wrong?

National Consumer Commission (NCC) inspectors visited its Celtisdal branch in Centurion in February 2024 after a tip-off from a customer. They found three problems (Tribunal ruling):

a service fee that varied from one bill to the next, depending on what the customer ordered
menu prices that didn't include that fee
receipts that didn't show the address of the branch

The company told the NCC it had 16 branches in Gauteng and had charged the fee at all of them since 2022. At the December 2024 hearing its attorney admitted the conduct, and the tribunal found it had broken sections 23(6)(a) and 26(3)(b) of the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) (Tribunal ruling).

The tribunal said the chain "acted deceitfully towards its customers" and set the fine high enough to deter other businesses from doing the same (Tribunal ruling).

What does the law say about extra fees?

Section 23(6) of the CPA says a supplier "must not require a consumer to pay a price for any goods or services higher than the displayed price". Section 26(3)(b) says your receipt must show the address of the premises where you were served (Tribunal ruling).

In practice, a compulsory charge belongs in the price you see before you order. A fee that only appears on the slip at the end is what got Braai Block fined. The ruling dealt with a fee added to every transaction, not with voluntary tips.

The CPA caps these fines at R1 million or 10% of a company's annual turnover, whichever is greater (Tribunal ruling).

Why is the fine only final now?

Braai Block tried to have the 2024 order set aside, but filed that application late. A single tribunal member refused to condone the delay in June 2025, and a three-member panel dismissed the appeal against that refusal in a judgment dated 24 August 2026 (Appeal judgment).

The company argued its previous attorney had let the case slip. The panel said the rescission route it used applies only when a party was absent when the order was made, and Braai Block had been present and represented (Appeal judgment). "Consequently, the R1 million administrative penalty remains in force," the tribunal said (BusinessTech).

Payment had been on hold during the appeal. News24 understands the fine must now be paid within 90 days (News24). News24 said it could not get comment from Braai Block.

What can you do if you're charged an extra fee?

Ask for the fee to be taken off before you pay, and keep your slip. If the business won't sort it out, you can complain to:

Who	Phone	Email
Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO)	0860 000 272	[email protected]
National Consumer Commission (NCC)	012 065 1940	[email protected]

Sources: CGSO contact page, NCC contact page.

The Braai Block case itself started with a single customer's tip-off to the NCC (Tribunal ruling).

FAQ

Can a restaurant in South Africa add a service fee that isn't on the menu?

Section 23(6) of the Consumer Protection Act says a supplier must not make you pay more than the displayed price. The National Consumer Tribunal fined Braai Block R1 million for adding a varying service fee that wasn't included in its menu prices.

How much was Braai Block fined?

R1 million. The National Consumer Tribunal imposed the fine in December 2024, and its appeal judgment of 24 August 2026 left the penalty in force.

Does my receipt have to show the shop's address?

Yes. Section 26(3)(b) of the Consumer Protection Act says the record of your transaction must include the address of the premises where the goods or services were supplied.

Where do I complain about an extra fee on my bill?

Raise it with the business first and keep your slip. You can then contact the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud on 0860 000 272 or the National Consumer Commission on 012 065 1940.