02-07-2025
More suspects arrested for allegedly repackaging and selling rotten, expired food
Mpumalanga farmer, Pieter Johannes Grobler was released on R8,000 bail by the Secunda Magistrate's Court after he was arrested for repackaging and selling rotten, expired food.
Image: Supplied/SAPS
Family members, Mark Lombard, 29, and Sonnet Lombard, 46, have joined Mpumalanga farmer Pieter Grobler, 41, who was previously arrested for repackaging and selling expired and rotten food for human consumption.
Grobler was arrested when law enforcement agencies raided a farm in Charl Cilliers, Mpumalanga, in February. He was subsequently released on R8,000 bail.
In the latest developments, Hawks spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said Mark Lombard and Sonnet Lombard, believed to be Grobler's relatives, were on Tuesday arrested as additional suspects.
'The Lombards were released on warning after their brief court appearance in Secunda Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 01 July 2025,' said Nkosi.
'The two suspects allegedly conspired with Grobler to commit fraudulent activities and money laundering.'
The Lombards were warned by the court to appear alongside Grobler on 1 August.
During Grobler's arrest, a number of items, including a truck, two light delivery vehicles, and seven refrigerators were found on the scene.
The farmer allegedly collected expired food from chain stores and other distributors under the auspices of feeding such food to his domestic animals.
When the team comprising the Hawks and Govan Mbeki Local Municipality's health inspectors visited the farm in February, they were shocked when two warehouses were found packed with food which they described as 'not fit for human consumption'.
Nkosi previously said four cold rooms on the farm were filled with expired canned products, rotten red meat, and chicken.
'About 1,000 crates were found fully loaded with expired dairy products, including cheese products. A truck, fitted with a cold room, two light delivery vehicles, one loaded with meat, and an empty LDV (light delivery vehicle) were also found,' said Nkosi.
The Hawks said an intense investigation will be conducted on the vehicles.
'A total of seven freezers were found in the warehouses, with repackaged wheat, flour, and maize meal. Equipment used for vacuuming, scales, and plastic sealers was found on the scene,' said Nkosi.
He added that the recovered items include stickers and pricing machines, which are believed to be used during the repackaging of the expired and rotten food.
Mpumalanga farmer, Pieter Johannes Grobler was released on R8,000 bail by the Secunda Magistrate's Court after he was arrested for repackaging and selling rotten, expired food.
Image: Supplied
