Family Ties in Rotten Food Scam: More Arrests in Mpumalanga Expired Goods Case

A growing food fraud scandal in Mpumalanga has taken a dark new turn and it’s hitting dangerously close to home.

Two family members of a farmer already accused of repackaging expired and rotten food for human consumption have now joined the growing list of suspects. The arrests deepen concerns about South Africa’s food safety enforcement and raise alarm about the scale of criminal operations involving repurposed goods unfit for shelves or stomachs.

Rotten to the Core: From Animal Feed to Dinner Tables

Earlier this year, 41-year-old Pieter Grobler, a farmer from Charl Cilliers, Mpumalanga, was arrested after authorities found warehouses on his farm filled with expired meat, dairy, and other perishable food products.

The claim? Grobler told suppliers the food was destined for animal feed. But health inspectors and the Hawks uncovered what they allege was a sinister repackaging and resale operation, involving vacuum-packed red meat, spoiled chicken, mouldy cheese, and outdated flour products.

Authorities say Grobler had been using vacuum sealers, stickers, and price-tagging machines to rebrand expired food and return it to the consumer market. A chilling thought, given the volume: over 1,000 crates of expired dairy and seven industrial freezers packed with products were discovered.

The Lombards Join the Case

This week, Grobler’s alleged collaborators Mark Lombard (29) and Sonnet Lombard (46) were arrested and briefly appeared at the Secunda Magistrate’s Court. They were released on warning and are expected to appear alongside Grobler in court on 1 August 2025.

According to Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi, the Lombards are suspected of conspiring with Grobler in fraudulent activities and money laundering, tied to the expired food operation.

“We believe they played a role in the repackaging and resale of expired food under the guise of legitimate distribution,” Nkosi said.

Community Shock and Consumer Outrage

As details of the case continue to emerge, public outrage has erupted online and in affected communities. Many are questioning how such large-scale fraud could go unnoticed and whether tainted food products have already reached supermarkets or informal vendors.

On X (formerly Twitter), a local health activist wrote:

“We need transparency. If any of this food made it into our homes, heads need to roll. This is not just a scam, it’s a health threat.”

Some have called for stronger oversight from the Department of Health and municipal food inspectors, pointing to what appears to be a systemic gap in enforcement.

A Symptom of Bigger Problems?

The case also highlights deeper challenges in South Africa’s supply chain oversight, especially in rural and peri-urban zones where discarded goods from chain stores are often quietly offloaded to intermediaries.

While most expired food is meant to be destroyed or converted into compost or animal feed, investigators believe Grobler and his alleged accomplices intentionally misled suppliers, then repackaged the items for sale in the informal economy, where product tracking is weaker.

The Govan Mbeki Local Municipality confirmed the initial raid was triggered by an anonymous tip-off.

What Happens Next?

The Hawks have seized multiple assets from Grobler’s property, including a truck with a cold room, two light delivery vehicles, and various repackaging tools. All will undergo forensic analysis.

Authorities stress that the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests may follow.

As the case unfolds, South Africans are left wondering how many others are operating in the shadows and how much expired food has slipped through the cracks and onto local shelves.

If you suspect a food supplier may be selling expired or repackaged goods, report it to your local health department immediately.