Byline: Nonjabuliso Nhlambo
06 February 2025
A farmer is expected to appear before the Secunda Magistrate Court today, 06 February, for allegedly repacking expired food.
The Hawks Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation and Charl Cillier SAPS operationalised information received from a reliable source about a farmer who allegedly repacked expired and rotten food for delivery to different retailers destined for human consumption.
According to allegations, the 30-year-old farmer collects 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 the Govern Mbeki Local Municipality Health Inspectors visited the farm, they were shocked when two warehouses were found packed with food not fit for human consumption.
Four cold rooms filled with expired canned products, rotten red meat, and chicken meat were found. About 1000 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 were also found. 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.
The recovered items include stickers and pricing machines, which are believed to be used during repackaging.
“It is a massive blow to the packager as these products were destined for unsuspecting end users. Food so packaged poses a huge risk to communities.” said the Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber.
