Illicit Trade: The Price South Africa Pays

By Thembi Moyo

South Africans are being given a closer look at the hidden and often devastating consequences of the country’s illicit economy through a new investigative video series that explores how illegal goods move through communities and supply chains.

Titled Someone Always Pays, the hard-hitting series was launched in Johannesburg on 20 August 2026, bringing together media representatives, industry leaders and other stakeholders concerned about the growing impact of illicit trade. The series is part of the Your Choice Has Power campaign, an initiative of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa (CGCSA), in partnership with a business task force. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the consequences of buying illicit goods and encourage consumers to make informed choices.

Leading the investigation is journalist Govan Whittles, who shared some of his experiences from the making of the series at the launch held at Langhams Lifestyle Estate. Whittles said the investigation revealed just how deeply illicit trade affects ordinary people and communities. “Someone Always Pays takes a harrowing look at the effect that illicit trade has on people’s lives,” he said.

According to Whittles, the consequences extend far beyond the purchase of a cheap or illegal product. Illicit trade is linked to crime, public health risks, business losses and wider social instability. The first episode looks at several areas of the illicit economy, including the deadly consequences of bootleg alcohol, the illegal fuel trade and the widespread trade in illicit cigarettes.

For consumers, the products may sometimes appear cheaper and more accessible. But the investigation highlights the hidden price that communities and the broader economy ultimately pay. CGCSA CEO Zinhle Tyikwe said the series was intended to show that illicit trade is not simply an economic issue, but one that can have serious consequences for people’s lives. “This hard-hitting series shows how trade in illicit goods has very real impacts on people’s lives and can even be fatal,” said Tyikwe.

She said future episodes would examine other areas of illicit trade and demonstrate how the consequences extend to businesses, workers, government revenue and communities. A panel discussion following the premiere further explored the impact of the illicit economy on South African society.Tyikwe said illicit trade endangers lives, takes income away from legitimate businesses, destroys jobs, supports criminal networks and deprives the country of tax revenue that could be used to provide essential public services.

The scale of the problem is significant, with South Africa’s illicit-goods economy estimated at around R1 trillion.But the campaign argues that consumers are not powerless.Tyikwe urged people to think carefully about where they spend their money and to avoid purchasing goods they suspect may be illegal.

Your choice has power,” she said, encouraging consumers to support legitimate businesses and report suspected illicit trade to the relevant authorities. The message behind Someone Always Pays is therefore simple: a bargain may not be as cheap as it appears. The campaign is encouraging South Africans to recognise that every purchase has an impact on businesses, jobs, communities, public services and the wider economy.

Members of the public who suspect illicit trading can report it through the CGCSA’s toll-free hotline on 0800 014 856 or by emailing reportillicit@cgcsa.co.za.