Over R100k fine for men found with counterfeit sneakers in Komatipoort
The accused were found guilty of possession of illicit and counterfeit goods with an estimated value of R579 200.
Two men were found guilty of contravening Section 112 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977, on 724 counts of possession of illicit and counterfeit goods that contravenes the provisions of Section 80(1)(a) read with sections 1, 4, 35A, 38, 39, 54, 87, 94 and 95 of the Customs and Excise Act 91 of 1964. These goods have an estimated value of R579 200.
The Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crimes Court found John Vuma (40) and Mpumelelo Life Shabangu (34) guilty and sentenced them to a combined fine of R150 000 or three years’ imprisonment on August 13.
The provincial Hawks’ spokesperson, Captain Dineo Sekgotodi, said the sentence comes after the men were arrested during a joint search and seizure operation conducted at the Lebombo Border Post in Komatipoort on June 21 by the Mbombela-based Serious Commercial Crimes Investigation, the SANDF Macadamia military base, and SARS’s customs officials.
“The men were driving a white VW minibus taxi and a white Toyota Quantum, both with trailers reported to be transporting counterfeit goods comprising about 555 pairs of Nike sneakers, 89 pairs of Adidas and 80 pairs of Jordan sneakers. They were travelling from Mozambique to South Africa. They did not declare the said counterfeit goods nor the vehicles,” she said.
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Sekgotodi added that Vuma and Shabangu were arrested, charged and detained at the Komatipoort SAPS, and the vehicles and counterfeit goods were taken to the Komatipoort SARS Customs warehouse for safekeeping. The matter was transferred to the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court and the investigation was finalised.
The two were found guilty and sentenced as first-time offenders to a combined fine of R150 000 or three years’ imprisonment, of which half is suspended for five years on the condition that they not be convicted of contravening Section 80(1)(a) of the Customs and Excise Act during the period of suspension.
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The recovered counterfeit goods were forfeited to the State. The court ordered that the owners of the vehicles involved pay a penalty and the storage fees to SARS Customs to the amount of R120 000.
