South Africa destroys R1-million illegally imported clothing

According to a report on the South African Independent Media website on November 29, South African Revenue Service officials destroyed illegally imported goods worth more than R7 million in Durban, including more than 13,000 packages worth R6.75 million. Special clothing and 15 vehicles worth R450,000 to combat illegal imports that harm the South African economy. The tax office said it had destroyed 11,514 packages of clothing and footwear worth R2.5 million since April 1 and 57 cars worth R7.1 million. A high-level intergovernmental task force is currently being established between the Department of Trade and Industry, the International Trade and Administration Commission and the South African Revenue Service to address illicit trade, with a focus on clothing, textiles, leather and footwear, scrap metal and gold. The tax office said that as a member of the task force, intensive work will be carried out in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the three key provinces with the highest import volumes of clothing and textiles.