WARNING: Fake Alcohol Sold in Mamelodi East, Community Urged to Stay Vigilant After Residents Bought Counterfeit Hennessy

WARNING: Fake Alcohol Sold in Mamelodi East, Community Urged to Stay Vigilant After Residents Bought Counterfeit Hennessy

Mamelodi East, Pretoria – 28 January 2026

A concerned resident from Mamelodi East has reached out to Mamelodi News anonymously to warn the community about the sale of fake (counterfeit) alcohol, specifically Hennessy, which is putting lives at risk, especially among the youth.

The incident occurred on 25 December 2025 (Christmas Day). The person was looking for genuine Hennessy and was directed to a seller in the area. They asked the price and were quoted R350 per bottle, far below the usual retail price for authentic Hennessy (typically R800–R1,200+ depending on size and expression).

Suspicious of the low price but assuming it might be a legitimate deal (perhaps linked to a family bottle store in Mamelodi East), they purchased two bottles. On the way home, they decided to check the authenticity. Upon closer inspection:

- The bottles lacked the characteristic smell of real cognac.

- When tasted, the liquid had a sugary, unnatural flavor with some alcohol content, but clearly not genuine Hennessy.

They returned the bottles immediately. Remarkably, the sellers refunded the money without any argument, suggesting they knew the products were fake.

The resident is deeply worried about the broader impact: "This is what kills our youth. Fake alcohol is dangerous, it can contain harmful chemicals like methanol, which causes poisoning, blindness, organ failure, or even death. We need to stop this in our community before more people get hurt."

Fake alcohol has become a growing problem in South Africa, with reports of a multi-billion-rand illicit trade flooding markets, including premium brands like Hennessy. Counterfeits are often refilled with cheap, unregulated spirits in unsanitary conditions, bypassing safety checks and taxes. Recent cases in Gauteng and elsewhere have seen police raids on fake liquor operations, but the issue persists in informal sales.