Farmer gets R8,000 bail after being arrested for allegedly repackaging and selling rotten, expired food

Mpumalanga farmer, Pieter Johannes Grobler spent a night behind bars before he was released on R8,000 bail by the Secunda Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Grobler was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, on Wednesday, for allegedly repackaging rotten and expired food for resale.

Mpumalanga spokesperson for the Hawks, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said law enforcement agents received information from a reliable source about health hazard activities at the farm.

The Hawks activated other role players including the SA Police and Govan Mbeki Local Municipality’s health inspectors.

“During the visit to the farm, members uncovered two warehouses with four cold rooms that were loaded with food, including meat, chicken, and dairy products. All the recovered food was either rotten or expired,” said Nkosi.

After spending a night behind bars, Grobler appeared before the Secunda Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

“His case was remanded to March 27 2025 to allow further investigation to be conducted. The court also ordered Grobler to report at Charl Cillier SAPS every Monday between 8am and 6pm. He was also instructed by the court to surrender his traveling documents to the investigating officer until the court issues a different order,” said Nkosi.

The Mpumalanga provincial head of the Hawks, Major General Nico Gerber has commended the team for a “sterling job” by stopping the expired and rotten food from being sold for human consumption, thus preventing a catastrophe.

“The postponement will allow our members to conduct a thorough investigation and identify other people who fell prey to this inhumane act,” said Gerber.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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