Pieter Johannes Grobler, a farmer from Mpumalanga, spent a night in custody before being granted R8,000 bail by the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Grobler was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, on Wednesday after allegations surfaced that he had been repackaging and selling rotten, expired food.
The arrest followed a tip-off from a reliable source regarding health hazards at Grobler’s farm. Acting on this information, law enforcement, along with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and health inspectors from the Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, carried out a raid on the premises. During their visit, investigators uncovered two warehouses and four cold rooms filled with food items, including meat, chicken, and dairy products, all of which were found to be either rotten or expired.
Grobler was quickly arrested, and his case was presented before the Secunda Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. The court decided to release him on bail, with his case being postponed until March 27, 2025, to allow for further investigation. In the meantime, Grobler was instructed to report to the Charl Cillier SAPS every Monday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents to the investigating officer until further notice from the court.
The arrest and subsequent investigation have been met with praise from Major General Nico Gerber, the Mpumalanga provincial head of the Hawks. Gerber commended the team for their quick action in preventing potentially hazardous food from being sold for human consumption. He expressed concern over the inhumane act and emphasized the importance of the ongoing investigation, which aims to identify any other individuals who may have been affected by Grobler’s actions.
The case has raised alarm over food safety and the dangerous practices that could have led to serious health risks for consumers. As the investigation continues, authorities are determined to uncover the full extent of the situation and bring those responsible to justice.
