An evaluation of the Second-Hand Goods Act (Act, 6 of 2009): analysis of its impact inreducing property crimes in Gauteng

This article presents the findings of a study to investigate the implementation of the SecondHand Goods Act (SHGA) within a Gauteng provincial context, focusing on the perspectives of key stakeholders in the second-hand goods market. Drawing from the findings of the research study which was conducted by the Gauteng Department of Community Safety in the 2024/2025 financial year, this article qualitatively explores different ways in which second-hand goods practitioners and law enforcement authorities conceptualise and experience the implementation of the SHGA (GDCS, 2024). Qualitative research methods were instrumental in uncovering the complex dynamics that both enable and constrain the effective regulation of the second-hand market, particularly in relation to the trade of stolen goods (GDCS, 2024). A purposive maximum variation sampling strategy was utilised to select twenty-seven participants for one-on-one interviews (GDCS, 2024). Moreover, the research teams employed an interactive data analytic strategy that comprises of seven stages of categorisation, these stages include familiarisation, condensation, comparison, grouping, articulating, labelling and contrasting (McCosker, Barnard and Gerber, 2004). Findings contribute to a deeper understanding of factors influencing the SHGA’s application and highlight areas for strengthening its enforcement within legitimate second-hand dealer networks (GDCS, 2024).