Counterfeit goods busted in Northern Cape forms part of a broader pattern

by | Nov 15, 2023

South Africa's economy is increasingly composed of counterfeit goods and expired food products, and is in danger of spiralling further out of control

SHARE POST:

✅ Link Copied

Collaborative efforts by Upington Border Police, Paballelo SAPS, and the Department of Health led to the removal and destruction of potentially hazardous food items worth around one million rand in Upington.

The focus was on counterfeit and expired products posing health risks. Police and health officials inspected various items to verify expiry dates. Distributors and shop owners were warned to prioritize food safety, and consumers were reminded to check expiry dates before purchasing.

This is not out of the ordinary, as economists now estimate counterfeit goods to account for 10% of the South African economy. In an interview with Jeremy Maggs, Stefano Betti explained:

“There are some business associations that estimate the counterfeiting phenomenon as accounting for 10% to the national economy. Illicit sale of alcohol products has reached a staggering 22% of the market and so on and so forth.”

Betti, Vice President of Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade (Tracit), discussed the surge in illicit trade across various sectors in South Africa, including alcohol, cigarettes, fishing, mining, electronics, pharmaceuticals, food, and apparel.

Concerns were raised about the potential impact on government revenues, development programs, and the welfare state. Betti emphasized the multifaceted nature of the problem, citing poor law enforcement, lack of expertise, understaffing, and corruption. The link between illicit trade and organized crime is highlighted, pointing to collusion between law enforcement, governmental authorities, and criminal organizations.

The consequences of the current trajectory include reduced governmental revenues, increased organized criminality, security threats, and potential economic downturn.

Betti suggests that South Africa will have to act quickly to avoid a terminal downward spiral.

0 0 votes
Rate this article

Independent news and opinion from the Cape of Good Hope for readers who value good old common sense. We focus on what really matters in South Africa.

Article views: 3

Interested in joining the movement? Find ways to get involved

GET NOTIFIED FOR NEW CONTENT

read more

Choose CX, Greater Knysna, Knysna civic movement, local government accountability, municipal service delivery, Knysna municipality, community-led initiative, water supply issues Knysna, electricity outages Knysna, municipal governance South Africa, infrastructure maintenance, transparent procurement, local politics Knysna, civic activism South Africa, waste collection problems

Civic movement grows in Knysna with goal of stability and “no national ambitions”

Choose CX looks to bring stable, accountable self-governance to address Knysna’s ongoing service delivery and infrastructure failures.

AfriForum SANDF security, SANDF burglaries Gauteng, military base security South Africa, weapons theft SANDF, Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum community safety, military facility security breaches, South African military crime, strategic infrastructure security, organised crime South Africa, SANDF security assessment, military base vulnerabilities

AfriForum offers training to SANDF

AfriForum offers SANDF security assistance after burglaries, weapons thefts and repeated breaches at Gauteng military facilities.

South Africa China trade, China zero tariff policy, South African exports, South Africa trade agreement, China Africa trade, South African agriculture exports, South African mining exports, tariff free exports China, South Africa economy, China investment Africa

China opens temporary zero-tariff trade for 20 African countries

While China has opened a temporary zero tariff window for South Africa, trade with China is not always straightforward.

The Common Sense lacks some common sense

David Wilkinson

The Common Sense, from what I can see, overlooks two key realities about South Africa.

Is Transformation Just Replacement?

David Wilkinson

Professor Frantz from UWC observes that transformation in 2025 is about the “reshuffling of power.” How could she respond to this situation?

Plett residents race to save Robberg’s last lung

May 15th, 2026

Robberg Peninsula development, Plettenberg Bay development, Robberg ecological corridor, Ballywood Properties, Schalk Burger development, Garden Route National Park, Bitou Municipality, Plettenberg Bay environment, Whale Rock development, coastal ecosystem threat, Robberg Peninsula conservation, South Africa property development, ecological destruction Plettenberg Bay, water and sewerage concerns Bitou, environmental objections Robberg

Understand South Africa’s Oligarchy

May 15th, 2026

South Africa oligarchy, South African economy, economic concentration South Africa, political economy South Africa, wealth inequality South Africa, corporate power South Africa, oligarchs South Africa, state and business relations, concentrated wealth South Africa, South African elites, economic power structures, monopoly economy South Africa, South African capitalism, political influence business, institutional power South Africa