SA sees upward trend in selling of counterfeit goods
The Economic Development Department's Consumer Protection Services will make presentations at the Competition Commission's grocery retail inquiry today.
The service will present a trend analysis based on inspections carried out at various shops in the province. The five-day inquiry is currently underway at the Durban ICC.
Recent inspections - conducted with police, Home Affairs and SARS customs officials - found that expired goods are being sold by smaller supermarkets in some rural areas.
Economic Development's Desmond Pillay says counterfeit goods and products containing banned substances are also a problem.
"If you walk into the townships - particularly townships like Umlazi, Phoenix and Chatsworth - on the streets you will find cigarettes you have not seen in your life. These brands are very cheap, you can buy them for R5 a packet. It's very harmful to the body. It's sodium benzoate mixed with certain acids - it's liquid benzene," he said.
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Lulama Mtanga, who is chairing the inquiry, says they've been advised there are businesses that take advantage of selling outdated goods at low prices, making it difficult for other businesses to match these prices.