Seven undocumented migrants are set to appear in court on Wednesday after their arrest during a police raid at a Gauteng factory where workers were found altering expiration dates on expired Lucky Star canned fish.
The group, aged between 18 and 29, was arrested following a joint operation by Crime Intelligence from Zamdela, Sasolburg, and SAPS Kliprivier, which targeted counterfeit goods. The operation, conducted on Monday, November 11, 2024, led to the seizure of a significant quantity of tampered Lucky Star pilchards.
Police spokesperson, Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, confirmed the arrests and stated that the factory owner is still on the run. The raid took place along Eland Street in Daleside, where authorities also uncovered printing equipment used to alter expiration dates on the cans. The altered products were being repackaged into boxes labeled “Woolworths Food.”
Authorities have opened a case under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act, as well as the Immigration Act, for illegal possession of goods and the suspected use of fraudulent practices. A comment from Woolworths was requested, but has not been received at the time of publication.
This incident is part of a growing trend in Gauteng, where authorities have cracked down on illegal manufacturing and food safety violations. Last year, two foreign nationals were arrested for running an unlicensed potato chip factory that was found to be distributing counterfeit products without proper certification.
The arrests highlight ongoing concerns about food safety in South Africa, with recent reports of foodborne illnesses affecting children across the country, especially in townships where illegal spaza shops sell expired or counterfeit products.
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