The goods were seized during a raid at Springfield China Mall in Durban, and will be destroyed rather than redistributed once legal proceedings are complete.
The operation, carried out last week by Durban Metro Police alongside national and provincial law enforcement, netted over 1 300 counterfeit items, including clothing, shoes, toys, gaming consoles and accessories.
Close to 20 000 non-compliant products in total were confiscated, ranging from food and chemicals to automotive parts and household goods.
Why are these seized goods not given away to disadvantaged communities?
Protecting Durban’s economy from fake fashion
According to Durban Metro Police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu, once seized, counterfeit or substandard goods are kept as evidence for court.
After that, the fake items are disposed of in bulk under strict supervision.
“The goods confiscated do not go back into circulation,” Zungu explained. “This is about permanently removing counterfeit and unsafe products from the market, protecting consumers and safeguarding the economy.”
Police argue that allowing the resale or donation of such goods would undermine legitimate businesses and expose the public to potential risks.
These items do not meet the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) standards, making them unsafe for use.
Last week’s raid extended to a warehouse in Pietermaritzburg that was believed to be a key supplier of illicit goods to Durban.
There, police seized agricultural remedies, electronics, meat products, plastics and even counterfeit household essentials.
“The operation disrupted a major supply chain of illicit goods, safeguarding Durban’s economy, protecting consumers and reinforcing that no illegal network is beyond the reach of law enforcement,” Zungu noted.
A national scourge
Crackdowns on counterfeit goods in South Africa are ongoing. In March, the SAPS National Counterfeit and Illicit Goods team confiscated fake merchandise valued at more than R43 million during raids across the country.
“SAPS, together with its crime-fighting partners, remains committed to dismantling the illegal trade in counterfeit goods to protect consumers, legitimate businesses, and the economy of this country,” SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk added.
Have you unknowingly purchased counterfeit goods?
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