Did the CPA Shut the Bathroom Doors for Transgender and Non-Binary People? A Critical Legal Reflection of Section 9(2) of the CPA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2025/v28i0a17935Keywords:
Consumer Protection, reasonable differentiation, section 9(2) of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, gender, separate facilities, inclusion, transgender, non-binary, equality, constitutionalityAbstract
The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA) introduced a variety of consumer rights that are intended to protect consumers in their engagement with suppliers. Amongst these rights is the consumer's right to equality in the consumer market. Section 8 of the CPA sets out practices that are considered to be prohibited discriminatory marketing practices; while section 9 of the CPA provides instances that constitute reasonable grounds for differential treatment in certain circumstances. In particular, section 9(2) of the CPA provides that a supplier may provide and designate facilities that are separate but equal for the exclusive use of each gender. Alternatively, the supplier is permitted to offer access to a facility to one gender exclusively. Over the years, the LGBTQI+ community has increased awareness around gender stereotypes; and stressed that not all persons conform to a binary-gender allocation. Therefore, the question that arises is whether section 9(2) of the CPA, in permitting the designation of facilities to exclusively one gender, is unfairly discriminating against transgender and non-binary persons and is therefore unconstitutional. To the extent that the provision is constitutional, the paper considers whether the continued practice of having gender-segregated bathrooms to the exclusion of transgender and non-binary persons is constitutional.
Downloads
References
Literature
Bagagli BP, Chaves TV and Fontana MGZ "Trans Women and Public Restrooms: The Legal Discourse and Its Violence" 2021 Frontiers in Sociology 1-14
Barnard J "Consumer Rights of the Elderly as Vulnerable Consumers in South Africa: Some Comparative Aspects of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008" 2015 International Journal of Consumer Studies 223-229
Barnard J and Kok A "A Consumer's Fundamental Right to Equality in terms of the Consumer Protection Act and the Role of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act" 2015 THRHR 1-23
Barnes J A Right to Legal Gender Recognition for Transgender Children in South Africa (LLM-dissertation Stellenbosch University 2020)
Bottoman L "The Experiences of Transgender Learners in Compulsory Heteronormative School Environments in the Republic of South Africa" 2021 Journal of Educational Studies 157-176
Brown A, Maseko N and Sedibe M "I Only Relieve Myself when I Get Home in the Afternoons: Microaggressions in (Queered) Bathroom Spaces at a South African University" 2020 Agenda 1-9
Butler J "Performative Acts and Gender Constitution: An Essay in Phenomenology and Feminist Theory" 1988 Theatre Journal 519-531
Eiselen S "Section 9 Reasonable Grounds for Differential Treatment in Specific Circumstances" in Eiselen S and Naude T (eds) Commentary on the Consumer Protection Act (Juta Cape Town Original Service 2014) ch 9
Elkind D "The Constitutional Implications of Bathroom Access Based on Gender Identity: An Examination of Recent Developments Paving the Way for the Next Frontier of Equal Protection" 2007 Journal of Constitutional Law 895-928
Govender I "Gender-based Violence – An Increasing Epidemic in South Africa" 2023 South African Family Practice Journal 1-2
Hasenbush A, Flores AR and Herman JL "Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Laws in Public Accommodations: A Review of Evidence Regarding Safety and Privacy in Public Restrooms, Locker Rooms, and Changing Rooms" 2019 Sexuality Research and Social Policy 70-83
Heaton J The South African Law of Persons (LexisNexis Durban 2021)
Herman JL "Gendered Restrooms and Minority Stress: The Public Regulation of Gender and Its Impact on Transgender People's Lives" 2013 Journal of Public Management and Social Policy 65-80
Jones C and Slater J "The Toilet Debate: Stalling Trans Possibilities and Defending Women's Protected Spaces" 2020 The Social Review Monographs 834-851
King DE "The Inclusion of Sex and Gender Beyond the Binary in Toxicology" 2022 Frontiers in Toxicology 1-3
Kogan TS "Sex Separation in Public Restrooms: Law, Architecture and Gender" 2007 Michigan Journal on Gender and Law 1-57
McGregor M "Transsexual People in the Workplace: Zero Tolerance for Discrimination" 2013 US-China Law Review 99-116
Patel N "Violent Cistems: Trans Experiences of Bathroom Space" 2017 Agenda 51-63
Sloth-Nielsen R "Failure to Recognise a Third Gender Option: Unfair Discrimination or Justified Limitation?" 2021 LDD 90-120
Smillie S et al "Unisex School Toilets Row Grows" Saturday Star (19 November 2022) 4
Snyman T and Rudman A "Protecting Transgender Women within the African Human Rights System through an Inclusive Reading of the Maputo Protocol and the Proposed Southern African Development Community Gender-Based Violence Model Law" 2022 Stell LR 57-77
Steyn R "Expanding the Suite of Measures of Gender-Based Discrimination: Gender Differences Yes in Ablution Facilities in South Africa" 2012 SAJEMS 222-234
Van Eeden E and Barnard J Consumer Protection Law in South Africa 2nd ed (LexisNexis Durban 2017)
Case law
Chisuse v Director-General, Department of Home Affairs 2020 6 SA 14 (CC)
Cool Ideas 1186 CC v Hubbard 2014 4 SA 474 (CC)
De Beer v North-Central Local Council and South-Central Local Council (Umhlatuzana Civic Association Intervening) 2002 1 SA 429 (CC)
Harksen v Lane 1998 1 SA 300 (CC)
KOS v Minister of Home Affairs 2017 6 SA 588 (WCC)
Natal Joint Municipal Pension Fund v Endumeni Municipality 2012 4 SA 593 (SCA)
September v Subramoney 2019 4 All SA 927 (WCC)
University of Johannesburg v Auckland Park Theological Seminary 2021 6 SA 1 (CC)
Van Zyl v Road Accident Fund 2022 3 SA 45 (CC)
Legislation
Alteration of Sex Description and Sex Status Act 49 of 2003
Births and Deaths Registration Act 51 of 1992
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008
New York City Commission on Human Rights Legal Enforcement Guidance on Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Expression: Local Law No 3 (2002); NYC Admin Code § 8-102(23)
Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000
Government publications
GN 1425 in GG 44048 of 31 December 2020
Memorandum of objects of the Consumer Protection Bill, 2008
Internet sources
Advocates for Trans Equality 2023 Understanding Transgender People: The Basics https://transequality.org/issues/resources/understanding-transgender-people-the-basics accessed 30 December 2023
Cambridge Online Dictionary 2023 Gender https://dictionary.cambridge.org/
dictionary/english/gender accessed 28 December 2023
Cambridge Online Dictionary 2024 Exclusive https://dictionary.
cambridge.org/dictionary/english/exclusive accessed 8 February 2024
Equal Education Law Centre date unknown Guidelines for the Socio-Educational Inclusion of Diverse Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) in Schools https://eelawcentre.org.za/wp-content/uploads/guidelines-for-the-sogiesc-schools.pdf accessed 11 August 2024
Gender Dynamix 2022 The Impact of the Proposed National Identity System on Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex People in South Africa https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c832zbKZQ-SmyzFdKKFV9pp-T9rSbnEV/view accessed 11 August 2024
Gender Dynamix 2023 Organisational Profile https://www.genderdynamix.org.za/organisational-profile accessed 30 December 2023
Human Rights Campaign Foundation 2017 A Time to Act: Fatal Violence against Transgender People in America https://assets2.hrc.org/
files/assets/resources/A_Time_To_Act_2017_REV3.pdf?_ga=2.169705377.1254005855.1537971386-49886542.1537543082 accessed 22 July 2024
Keyes O 2018 The Misgendering Machines: Trans/HCI Implications of Automatic Gender Recognition. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction https://ironholds.org/resources/papers/agr_paper.pdf accessed 10 August 2024
Martin JH and Brouard PW 2023 Bathrooms are Political: How Gender-Inclusive Toilets Can Combat Indignity and Violence https://theconversation.com/bathrooms-are-political-how-gender-inclusive-toilets-can-combat-indignity-and-violence-207447 accessed 18 July 2024
Mbatha S, Wilson Z and Buckley C 2008 Zulu Indigenous Practices in Water and Sanitation: Preliminary Field Research on Indigenous Practices in Water and Sanitation Conducted at Ulundi https://wisa.org.za/document/zulu-indigenous-practices-in-water-and-sanitation-preliminary-field-research-on-indigenous-practices-in-water-and-sanitation-conducted-at-ulundi/ accessed 10 August 2024
Muslim Travel Guide 2023 Salaah Facilities in Gauteng Shopping Centres https://muslimtravelguide.com/salaah-facilities-in-gauteng-shopping-centres/ access 30 December 2023
People's Assembly 2008 Proceedings of the National Council of Provinces (Thursday, 21 August 2008) https://www.pa.org.za/hansard/2008/august/21/proceedings-of-the-national-council-of-provinces-2 accessed 11 August 2024
People's Assembly 2008 Proceedings of the National Council of Provinces (Tuesday 11 November 2008) https://www.pa.org.za/hansard/2008/november/11/proceedings-of-the-national-council-of-provinces-2 accessed 11 August 2024
People's Assembly 2008 Proceedings of the National Assembly (Friday, 26 September 2008) https://www.pa.org.za/hansard/2008/september accessed 11 August 2024
World Health Organisation 2023 Gender and Health https://www.who.int/health-topics/gender#tab=tab_1 accessed 29 December 2023
Yogyakarta Principles 2006 Yogyakarta Principles https://yogyakartaprinciples.org/principles-en/official-versions-pdf/ accessed 30 December 2023
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Tshepiso Scott_Ngoepe, Obakeng Van Dyk
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}