Blatant contravention of by-laws in the Germiston CBD prompted the metro to crack down on the area on October 9.
The operation, which ran from 9am to 1pm, involved the By-Laws Integrated Team (comprised of various representatives from metro departments), the SAPS, Home Affairs and officials from law firms versed in identifying counterfeit goods.
Ten huge bags of fake designer clothing and footwear were confiscated, 19 undocumented people were arrested and four men were nabbed for possession of dagga.
Streets where furniture and goods are illegally displayed on pavements, obstructing pedestrians and generally offences causing an eyesore in the CBD, were targeted.
The streets included High, Voortrekker, Lambert, Oosthuizen, Plantation, Park, Simpson, Simmer, Meyer, President, Spilsbury, Knox, Railway, Leipold, Library and Jack.
Illegally parked vehicles were towed away, furniture and goods displayed illegally were confiscated and the certification of operating businesses was checked.
Heavy fines were meted out to businesses not complying with the city’s regulations.
Fake brands confiscated included Adidas, Puma, Nike, Lacoste, Levi’s, Louis Vuitton, Dunhill and Boss.
“These special operations, which are bent on cleaning up our towns, are ongoing,” said Wilfred Kgasago, spokesman for the EMPD.
All the people arrested were charged at the Germiston Police Station and were expected to appear in the Germiston Magistrates Court on October 10.
