Pretoria: The South African Police Service (SAPS) has seized counterfeit and illicit goods valued at more than R156 million during operations conducted in Pretoria, Mbombela, and Limpopo.
According to South African Government News Agency, over the past three weeks, an integrated team executed search-and-seizure warrants in line with the Counterfeit Goods Act 37 of 1997 and the Customs and Excise Act at targeted shops in Marabastad, Mokopane, Mbombela, Bela Bela, Mookghopong, and Modimolle. During these operations, the team seized over 23,000 items imitating high-end designer brands, including clothing, shoes, bags, caps, and watches, along with counterfeit jewelry, sunglasses, perfumes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.
Among the seized items were sports apparel featuring the Springboks trademark and other well-known brands. These counterfeit items were confiscated outside Mbombela stadium and Loftus stadium during recent Springbok rugby games against visiting countries. Additionally, the team seized illicit cigarettes valued at over R50,000.
The operations were led by the National Counterfeit and Illicit Goods unit with support from Public Order Policing (POP), the South African Revenue Service (SARS) Customs and Enforcement team, counterfeit depot officials, brand protectors, and private security personnel. SAPS stated that it remains committed to eradicating the illegal trade in counterfeit goods to protect consumers, support legitimate businesses, and ensure the integrity of South Africa’s economy.
The Counterfeit Goods Act is designed to combat the trade in counterfeit goods by protecting trademarks, copyrights, and certain mark owners from the unlawful use of their intellectual property on goods, preventing such counterfeit goods from entering the market.