Police searched a total of 62 spaza shops in Masiphumelele and Ocean View in a joint operation with the Department of Trade and Industry.
The operation follows reports of counterfeit goods and expired stock being sold at some of the shops in the area.
Capt Nick Spreeth, head of visible policing at Ocean View Police Station, said goods to the value of R12 600 have been confiscated to date.
“Numerous operations were done during the months of March and April at the spaza shops in Masiphumelele and Ocean View. These searches were conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry and Ocean View police.”
Confiscated items included shoe polish, instant yeast and roll-on. “Numerous counterfeit goods such as roll-on and shoe polish were confiscated, a total number of 117 roll-on bottles and 570 tins of shoe polish was confiscated, with an estimated value of R12 600.”
Spreeth added that 20 tins of shoe polish were confiscated in Ocean View and a box of instant yeast.
“The yeast is counterfeit. No expired stock was found, the operation was for counterfeit goods.
A total of 62 spaza shops were visited and the operation will be ongoing,” said Spreeth.
Mansoer Ismail, chair of Ocean View Community Policing Forum (CPF), said spaza shops that repeatedly sell counterfeit or expired goods could face losing their trade licence.
“Spaza shops in Ocean View receive fines for selling expired goods. We have had tin food that was outdated, noodles and everyday stuff that people buy.
“We have people in the community who report to us when they see the expired goods at certain shops.”
Ismail added that checks done on spaza shops are ongoing. “At the searches we also check to see that the spaza shop owners have their trading licence. Those who again sell expired or counterfeit goods will have their trading licence removed.”
