PRETORIA – Counterfeit clothing, cosmetics, and other knock-off products valued at over R156 million have been confiscated during a series of coordinated raids led by South Africa’s National Counterfeit and Illicit Goods Unit.
The operations, conducted over the past three weeks, were carried out in multiple towns and cities including Marabastad, Mokopane, Mbombela, Bela Bela, Mookgophong, and Modimolle. Police were supported by Public Order Policing (POP), SARS Customs and Enforcement, brand protectors, private security firms, and officials from counterfeit depots.
More than 23,000 fake items were removed from shelves, including replicas of high-end clothing labels, designer bags, shoes, sunglasses, and jewellery. Fake pharmaceuticals and cosmetics were also part of the haul.
Officers seized counterfeit sports merchandise—bearing the Springboks trademark—outside Mbombela and Loftus stadiums during recent rugby matches, targeting pop-up vendors capitalising on national fixtures.
Illicit cigarettes worth over R50,000 were also discovered during the clampdown.
The seizures were carried out under the Counterfeit Goods Act and the Customs and Excise Act, which regulate the use of protected trademarks and intellectual property.
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