SA Revenue Service has confiscated millions of rands worth of counterfeit and illegally imported clothing and textiles in recent months as it pursues an aggressive campaign to plug all loopholes. In early December, a 24-foot container filled with suspected counterfeit shoes, bags, wallets and other goods, with a protected value of R20.7 million, was detained by Sars customs officials at the City Deep depot in Gauteng. The goods had been declared as furniture. Customs has carried out 561 busts since the launch of a special “increased inspections” operation at the City Deep depot last August. The operation focuses specifically on prohibited and restricted goods, such as counterfeit clothing and shoes. So far, 132 busts have related to clothing and textile infringements, bringing in over R10.5 million since the programme was launched. The importation of counterfeit clothing and textiles – as well as infringements like under-declaration and misclassification – is a massive problem in South Africa, and Customs is therefore also focusing on non-designated border posts. Late last year suspected counterfeit clothing and footwear with a street value of about R1.2 million was recovered at Kosi Bay. This border post in particular was targeted as a hotspot of smuggling due to the lack of controls. “Once we have assessed the risk at these border posts, we will focus on strategy and capacity planning at non-designated ports going forward,” said Patrick Moeng, executive: customs investigations. Customs currently only has a presence at commercial border posts, while nondesignated ports only have a couple of representatives from other government agencies, such as SAPS and immigration but no permanent customs presence.”
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We will focus on strategy and capacity planning at non-designated ports going forward. – Patrick Moeng
