Government to blame for children’s deaths caused by counterfeit goods - after being warned 5 years ago

5 October 2023

ActionSA believes the National Government, including the Police Department and Health Department, should take responsibility for the recent deaths of children in Soweto, Soshanguve and West Rand caused by the sale of counterfeit goods.

As Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, I repeatedly warned about the dangers counterfeit goods - including foods and medicine - pose for South Africans across the country and requested urgent intervention by the National Government. At the time, I mentioned how city inspectors warned of a ‘health catastrophe’ unless action was taken.

However, my fell pleas on deaf ears, and requests for additional powers to be awarded to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) to prosecute these crimes were also rejected. We now find ourselves in a situation where the goods on sale on shop counters cannot be trusted.

ActionSA reiterates our belief that drastic actions should be taken, including raiding the factories where these goods are produced as I did as Johannesburg Mayor, and prosecuting these crimes speedily.

It is simply unacceptable that we are placing the lives of South Africans at risk because we are failing to uphold the rule of law in South Africa.

At our recent policy conference, delegates adopted policies which would turn the tide of lawlessness in the country by increasing prison sentences, removing bail for certain crimes such as gender-based violence & femicide and increasing community policing.

Our civil service also needs to be reformed to restore ethical leadership to ensure that the bribery of officials does not take place, and inspections of factories and retail outlets occur regularly in line with legislation.

As a party committed to the rule of law, ActionSA will work tireless to turn around the scourge of counterfeit good production to ensure that South Africans are kept safe and can trust the goods they buy at stores.

Issued by Herman Mashaba, ActionSA leader, 5 October 2023