The Coca-Cola Company has issued a press statement after the South African Police Service uncovered fake Valpre-branded bottled water to the value of R10 million which was allegedly sourced from a fire hydrant.
COPS bust a warehouse manufacturing fake spring water on Wednesday, 23 November 2016!
According to Gauteng police spokesman Captain Mavela Masondo, fong kong water worth around R10 million was found at the warehouse in Crown Mines, Joburg.
He said the police’s crime intelligence unit had been investigating a gang involved in manufacturing fake bottled water.
“They allegedly use tap water from a fire extinguisher hose. They filter the water through a pipe into a tank and then it gets piped into bottles,” he said.
Masondo said the police were still trying to find out how long the factory had been operating.
“We are still investigating and the outcome will determine who to detain and arrest. At this stage, no one has been arrested,” he said.
The company had allegedly been distributing the fake goods in areas such as Sasolburg, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging, Three Rivers, Meyerton, De Deur, Ironside, Evaton, Palm Springs and Ennerdale.
Masondo said the cops found around 450 000 bottles full of water and 500 000 empty bottles. They also found 200 000 bottles in the process of being labelled.
Masando said a case of breaking the Counterfeit Goods Act was opened.
This has left many people in Johannesburg disgusted by such acts as they are putting people lives at risk.
Here are some of their comments:
“Well, spring water or mineral water have their own distinct flavour, I for one has bought many such and I found some to be tasting similiar to tap water, even well established brands also tasted like tap water. Maybe if all bottled water can be subjected through SABS or something similiar.” Donald Khuzwayo
“This is so gross. Im so happy that I only drink tap water and don’t buy these waters cause they are a waste of money. You cant even taste the difference between tap water and these spring waters.” Beverly Williams
The Coca-Cola Company has issued a press statement after the South African Police Service uncovered fake Valpre-branded bottled water to the value of R10 million which was allegedly sourced from a fire hydrant.
We are aware of the SAP investigation into the illegal production facility where our products are allegedly being fraudulently produced and distributed. We would like to assure the public and consumers that we are urgently looking urgently into the matter and we are fully cooperating with investigators.
The safety of our products is of the utmost importance to the Coca-Cola Company and we would like to encourage consumers to purchase Valpre products only through well-known and established retailers.
Head of Communications
Coca-Cola South East and Africa Business Unit
