Two family members of 'rotten food farmer' arrested by Hawks
'Mark Lombard, 29, and Sonnet Lombard, 46, have joined Pieter Grobler, 41, who was released on R8,000 bail after he was arrested for repackaging and selling expired and rotten food for human consumption at a farm in Charl Cilliers [in Mpumalanga] in February,' Hawks spokesperson Magonseni Nkosi told TimesLIVE on Wednesday.
'The two suspects, believed to be Grobler's relatives, were arrested by the Hawks' Secunda serious organised crime investigation-led team, including tactical response team, Secunda K9, Charl Cillier SAPS and Secunda criminal records centre officers [and] brand owners on Tuesday.'
The Lombards were released on warning after their brief court appearance in Secunda magistrate's court on Tuesday.
'The two suspects allegedly conspired with Grobler to commit fraudulent activities and money laundering. They were warned by the court to appear with Grobler on August 1.'
According to the Hawks, during Grobler's arrest several assets were found on the scene and are subject to further investigation.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Eyewitness News
38 minutes ago
- Eyewitness News
Xhakaza believes murder of City of Ekurhuleni auditor linked to his probe into missing R2bn
Alpha Ramushwana 3 July 2025 | 11:59 City of Ekurhuleni Doctor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza FILE: City of Ekurhuleni Mayor Doctor Xhakaza. Picture: Supplied/City of Ekurhuleni "It's one thing to prepare a charge sheet for suspended officials and once you submit it, something happens. We don't want to draw up linkages, but if you are involved in this type of work and you get shot, it can't be random thing," said Xhakaza. He added that it was difficult meeting the family without being able to divulge who they believe was responsible for Mafole's murder. "It's painful to stand before the family and not give them the names of those who are responsible," he said. Mafole's family is still struggling to come to terms with his violent death. However, they believe it was directly tied to his investigation into municipal corruption. A relative, Nomasonto Khasake, said Mafole had shared with them that he was making progress in uncovering serious corruption. "We knew Mpho was working on something big. He was getting close to exposing corruption in the municipality," she said. "The people who killed him knew what they were doing, they are clearly experts," she added. She also revealed that Mafole had been returning home from a work-related meeting when he was shot near his home in Kempton Park. "The people who killed him phoned him while he was driving. When he answered the phone, he was shot multiple times. His phone was left with bullet holes," she said. Mafole is survived by two teenage children - Gontse (14) and Kgaugelo (16). The siblings were overcome with emotion as their aunt recounted the horrifying details of their father's murder. Gontse broke down in tears, and a relative quickly stepped in to comfort her. While police are still investigating, the city is now calling for the Hawks to take over the case.
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
I availed myself for accountability, Simelane tells DA in heated debate
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, who was allegedly accused of murdering her sister, whom the party never suspended nor issued a press statement. Image: Hunk Kruger / Independent Newspapers HUMAN Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has described the DA's personal attack on her as being tried in public without being charged. Simelane said she was not amazed by what was happening to her because a person stands in front of a judge when charged with an offence. 'You are trying me in public because you think this is the only way to degrade the work I am doing,' she said. Simelane responded to the DA's attacks during the budget vote for her department on Wednesday. The DA, which had its former deputy minister, Andrew Whitfield, dismissed for taking a trip to the US without authorisation from President Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed not to vote in support of the budgets of departments left by compromised ministers and deputy ministers. On Tuesday, the DA claimed that Simelane was under investigation after it laid charges with the SAPS for the alleged theft of more than R700,000 by fraudulently billing Eskom when she worked for a company named Vitrovian. Speaking during the debate, DA MP Luyolo Mphithi said the Human Settlements Department was saddled with a catastrophic collapse of governance across its several housing entities. Mphithi recalled that Simelane was previously accused of receiving a R575,600 'loan' from Gundo Wealth Solutions, linked to the unlawful investments of municipal funds into the VBS Mutual Bank, while she was the mayor of the Polokwane Municipality. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'It seems that the president does not at all take issue with the fact that a person accused of corruption sits in his Cabinet and will have to look after the budget with R30 billion set aside for South Africans,' he said. Mphithi also said that although the department's budget and department have many challenges, it would under normal circumstances be supported. 'However, we are faced with a minister who has corruption allegations against her and has not been accountable to the South African public, which makes it difficult for us to support this budget,' he said. Mphithi's colleague, Conrad Poole said that when Simelane was accused, she should be in the dock before a judge and not be an MP entrusted with R33 billion of taxpayer funds. 'I certainly would not bet any money on this minister doing anything to clean up shop. If the allegations of corruption are true, she would rather buy coffee shops. She may, in fact, be planning to convert the Department of Human Settlements for her grand relaunch of her 'coffee' enterprise. In response, Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, whom she identified as Msebenzi Radebe, who was allegedly accused of the murder of her sister, whom the party never charged. 'In 2016, when I managed to place charges against him, it was only then that the DA suspended him. Even on my calls to get the DA to get a statement of murder against my sister, they did not. In 2019, three years later, she died. 'So good, you can find the nearest door to the police station. Where it matters, you don't even know where the door is,' she said. Simelane insisted that the investigation was about accountability. 'I availed myself of accountability. Now the investigation is done, and you reported the case, but you now can't wait for the investigation to conclude. I fear I am going to disappear after this. I mean really,' she said. ANC MP Albert Seabi pleaded with Simelane not to be distracted by the amount of noise, no matter how loud it may be, including an allegation not tested in court. 'You have our support minister because of your strong work ethic, your dedication, your diligence, and your consistent commitment to transparency, accountability, and transforming the sector,' said Seabi. EFF MP Babalwa Mathulelwa said they rejected the budget not because 'we are extortionists like the DA'. Mathulelwa said the rejection of the budget was based on the empty promise wrapped in inflation and false hopes. ActionSA's Malebo Patricia Kobe said: 'The budget fails to honour the dignity of millions still waiting for a place to call home.' Rise Mzansi's Makashule Gana said: 'I will debate the budget and resist the temptation to debate or play the woman'. Cape Times
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Flying squad makes R700k drug bust in Cape Town
A tip-off about suspected drug dealing at a fast-food establishment has dished up a stash of Mandrax with an estimated street value of R700,000 in Athlone, Cape Town. Maitland Flying Squad members found three vehicles at the address in Belgravia just after 1pm on Wednesday. 'They found three vehicles — a white Mercedes-Benz, a white Renault and a white Hyundai — in the parking area. The members observed the occupants and noticed one suspect take a black bag out of one vehicle, putting it into his vehicle,' said police spokesperson Capt Frederick van Wyk 'They approached the vehicles and two of the suspects attempted to walk away but were apprehended. The members searched the vehicles and found in one 3,000 Mandrax tablets and in another an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of crime.' Additional information led police to a premises in Crawford where they found another 13,000 Mandrax tablets and schedule 1 medicine. A 58-year-old woman and four men aged between 48 and 60 were arrested for possession and dealing in drugs. They are expected to appear soon in the Athlone magistrate's court.
