Second-hand dealers attended a general meeting at the Newcastle Club last Wednesday, April 20.
Warrant Officer Naresh Praag, and Detective Warrant Officer Rajen Ramdeen Kalicharan from Newcastle SAPS, said businesses would be monitored to comply with the law and would be notified if trading was not done correctly.
Three warnings would be given to the business, followed by a fine. Thereafter legal steps would be taken, with the possibility of the store being closed down and the owner being declared unfit to hold a trading licence.
Members raised concerns about the alarming numbers of burglaries and robberies committed, leading to some second-hand dealers unwittingly buying stolen property.
WO Praag emphasised the importance of refraining from buying goods without first establishing ownership of the seller.
“If they cannot provide receipts, then get two phone numbers to confirm the transaction is legit and [goods] not stolen,” he advised.
Mavela Ndlovu from Newcastle Municipality also attended the meeting and informed second-hand dealers about municipal by-laws regarding second-hand merchandise dealings.
Second-hand dealers were reminded to have their business trading licences renewed to comply with new municipal by-laws.
Dealers in second-hand goods were encouraged to regularly attend Second-Hand Dealers Forum meetings, as important information pertaining to the trade would be shared.
The next meeting will tale place on June 22, at Newcastle Club from 10am.
