The South African Tyre, Equipment, and Parts Association (TEPA) warned local motorists to be on the lookout for “illegal and inferior quality automotive parts” after the Hawks special crime unit discovered R5-million worth of fake NSK-branded bearingsin a Tulisa Park, Johannesburg warehouse.

According to Vishal Premlall, National Director of TEPA, counterfeit products are only part of the problem as there is currently a wider proliferation of sub-standard quality parts flooding the domestic market and compromising consumers’ health and safety.

“The problem with these parts is there is very little, if any traceability, no technical support, and no recourse for the consumer,” said Premlall.

The discovery of the illegal bearing stash follows the destruction of R80-million worth of illegal automotive materials by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) earlier this year.