Various shops in the Randfontein CBD were raided during the Gauteng Law Enforcement Forum on Wednesday, 27 June, during which large quantities of counterfeit goods were seized by law enforcement agencies.
Kenny Mampondo, Chief of the Rand West City Traffic Department (RWCTD), said they also joined forces with all the agencies to clamp down on shops that deal in counterfeit goods.
Mapondo said most of the shops are operated by foreigners, and are trading in products that are not intercepted or authorised. He said the goods are smuggled into the country through our harbours.
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“These goods damage a lot of companies, especially those that manufacture sport apparel.
“We formed part of yesterday’s operation, in which many counterfeit products were seized.”
He said other agencies involved included the Johannesburg and Tshwane Metropolitan Police Departments, the police, the K9 unit, and Home Affairs.
The stakeholders for brand identification were at the forefront of the operation, because they are able to identify the fake products, which include clothing.
“The immigration department concentrated on the documentation or the authenticity of the documents”.
Mampondo said in another operation that was held recently in partnership with Environmental Health, many food products that were deemed unsuitable for human consumption were seized from the food outlets in Randfontein.
“We seized many food products that had expired or were rotten, because they were posing a serious health hazard to the public. Our people are at risk of serious diseases because many of them buy these goods,” Mampondo added.
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