by Thinus Ferreira
MultiChoice, together with the South African Police and customs authorities, seized 5 000 fake "Dtv" chargers and power supply units that Uni Li Cell tried to import to South Africa through the Durban harbour.
On 3 June the police intercepted a shipment of 5 000 counterfeit chargers and power supply units falsely branded as "Dtv" to make them look compatible with DStv decoders.
According to MultiChoice, Uni Li Cell has "signed a formal undertaking in settlement of the civil case, agreeing to the delivery of all the infringing goods" and "a cost contribution of R40 000 has also been paid as part of the settlement".
The fake goods were destroyed and crushed manually with hammers to extract recyclable components.
MultiChoice says cables were stripped to recover copper wiring, and all cardboard packaging was collected for recycling by authorised agents. The process was carefully documented and overseen to ensure compliance with legal and environmental standards.
"This case is part of a broader enforcement effort that recently saw border police detain a further 30 600 counterfeit universal chargers bearing marks identical or confusingly similar to DStv trademarks."
According to the pay-TV operator, "In alignment with new procedures adopted by police, the Commercial Crime Unit (CCU), and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), all such detentions are now submitted for criminal prosecution, reflecting a stronger national stance against counterfeit trade".
Frikkie Jonker, Irdeto director of broadcast and cybersecurity, says "This is a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to combat the trade in counterfeit goods".
"We commend the border police, Commercial Crime Unit, and our legal partners for their collaboration and dedication in protecting South African consumers and our brand."
