POTCHEFSTROOM – In an endeavour to fight the buying and selling of stolen goods, police on Friday, 18 February 2022, conducted a multidisciplinary and crime intelligence driven operation at identified Second-Hand Goods Dealer premises in Rustenburg.

The police working together with the Department of Home Affairs, Telkom and the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), issued fines amounting to R25 000.00 to 19 business owners. The fines, among others were issued for possession of counterfeit goods and failure to register a business as a dealer in contravention of Section 2(1) of the Second-Hand Goods, Act 2009 (Act No. 6 of 2009)

Furthermore, three persons were arrested for possession of suspected stolen property while one was held for possession of drugs. A total of nine suspected undocumented persons were taken in for processing by Immigration Officials.

Police would like to remind all Second-Hand Goods dealers that Chapter 2(1) of the Act stipulates that every person, who carries out a business as a dealer must be registered. Moreover, a dealer must keep a register in the prescribed form and record in the register the prescribed particulars regarding every acquisition or disposal of second-hand goods according to chapter 4 (21)(1).

Source: South African Police Service