THE 30-year-old farmer, who was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly repackaging expired and rotten food for delivery to retailers destined for human consumption, was released on R8 000 bail.

Pieter Johannes Grobler, from Mpumalanga, spent the night in jail before appearing in the Secunda Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

The operation was carried out by the Hawks Secunda-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation and SAPS after they received information from a source.

“It is alleged the 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 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,” the Hawks had said in a statement.

“Four cold rooms filled with expired canned products, rotten red meat, and chicken meat were found. 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 were also found.”

The Hawks said “an intense” investigation would 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 that are believed to be used during repackaging.”

The case was adjourned to March 27 for further investigation.

In a statement, Lieutenant-Colonel Magonseni Nkosi said the court had ordered Grobler to report at Charl Cillier SAPS every Monday between 8am and 6pm.

"He was also instructed by the court to surrender his travelling documents to the investigating officer until the court issues a different order."

Major General Nico Gerber, the Mpumalanga Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commended the team by stopping the expired and rotten food from being sold for human consumption, thus preventing another catastrophe.

"The postponement will allow our members to conduct thorough investigation and identify other people that fell prey to this inhumane act," said Gerber.

THE POST