Butcher manager placed on leave after teenager drinks oven acid in prank incident
Image: Supplied
Police are investigating attempted murder after a 17-year-old was allegedly pranked into drinking a liquid from a cool drink bottle which contained acid.
The victim, who left school to assist his single mother, was employed at Mitchell's Moslem Butchery in Woodlands, and was apparently set to get a promotion.
According to reports, the victim allegedly drank oven acid from the Sprite bottle thinking it was cooldrink, however, spat it out.
The medication he took after allegedly resulted in internal bleeding and the victim was admitted to Groote Schuur hospital.
The victim was on life support in the ICU, but as recently gone off critical status.
Police spokesperson, Anelisiwe Manyana, said Lentegeur police are investigating an attempted murder case.
'It is alleged that the 17-year-old victim was pranked into drinking a liquid from a cool drink bottle which contained acid.
"He got cramps and vomited where after he was admitted to a medical facility to receive medical treatment. The case was reported by a family member the next day,' said Manyana.
"Subsequently the butchery was closed pending further investigation. No arrest has been made.'
Lentegeur Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson, Michael Jacobs, said they have spoken to the station commander and said CCTV footage would need to be viewed and statements of employees need to be taken.
The butchery's management were advised not to give a comment yet to protect the dignity of the staff member and his family.
National Coloured Congress (NCC) member and community leader, Shahiem van Nelson, said a meeting was held on Monday opposite the butcher to calm residents after they expressed their anger.
'We calmed the community down because the building had nothing to do with what transpired there.
"Mitchell's Butchery has been long in the community; they have been serving this community for very long,' Van Nelson said.
'We also have community members that are working there and if anything should happen to the butcher itself our people will be sitting without work.'
He added that allegations that have been spiralling on social media saying that the manager is on the run are not true, but rather that they were asked to take leave and not to come to the butcher until the case has been resolved.
"We as a community made a collection for the mother and father to travel everyday to hospital and we really have to thank the community," Van Nelson said.
Cape Argus
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
4 hours ago
- The Citizen
Sandton CPF celebrates women and community safety
Chilli Lane Shopping Centre in Sunninghill was alive with conversation, flowers, and a spirit of unity as the Sandton Community Policing Forum (CPF) Sector 1 hosted its Women's Day celebration. The event combined tribute, awareness, and community engagement, recognising the vital role women play in society, while strengthening ties between residents and law enforcement. Read more: Douglasdale CPF calls for school shoe donations The meet-and-greet allowed community members to interact directly with representatives from Sandton SAPS, Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), private security companies, and the City of Johannesburg's Health Department. Residents were encouraged to voice concerns, ask questions, and learn more about resources available to them. Roshan Byjnal, public relations officer for Sandton CPF, said the celebration was about more than honouring women. 'Women have gone beyond being a moms, wives, and businesswomen. Women are now leaders in every aspect of the community, but it's also about raising awareness on gender-based violence is a major challenge. We want every woman to know she is not alone. There is help, and the CPF, SAPS, and our partners are here to support you.' As part of the programme, several women were honoured for their contributions to the community. Police officials also led awareness exercises to highlight safety issues and demonstrate available support structures. JMPD officer Douglas Mbokodo echoed the importance of building stronger relationships with residents. 'People often think our job is only about giving fines, but our role is to protect and ensure everyone is safe. That's why we come closer to our communities, to share information and let people know where to find us.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Report every crime
The Garsfontein CPF is urging residents to take a proactive stance against crime by reporting every incident, no matter how small, directly to the police. CPF chairperson Aris Ruyter said there is a rise in petty but persistent theft, with suspects targeting outdoor lights, taps, cables, and tools. 'While these crimes may seem small, failing to report them could allow offenders to escalate their activities. 'If it's not reported to SAPS, it's as if it never happened, there's no case, no consequence, and repeat offenders simply move on to bigger crimes,' explained Ruyter. He stressed that crime reports create formal dockets that enable investigations and possible arrests. 'Without this paper trail, crimes remain unrecorded and offenders are free to reoffend.' Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said that no office has the right to refuse to open a case for victims or residents. Van Dyk said that should a victim be turned away when trying to open a case, they should look out for a 'Rate Our Service' poster on display at the Community Service Centre (CSC) at the police station. 'If it is not available, you have the right to speak directly to the station commander about your complaint. The commander's official cellphone number should be displayed in the CSC,' Van Dyk explained. He said if you are still not satisfied, you can escalate the matter by contacting the District Office or the Provincial Office to lodge an official complaint. While first-time or minor offences may result in lighter sentences, the severity of the punishment depends on factors such as the case specifics, the magistrate's decision, and the offender's age. Residents are also encouraged to join their local CPF sector or WhatsApp group to share information and collaborate on safety initiatives. To do this, visit and select your area of residence. Community action steps: – Report all crimes and suspicious activity directly to SAPS. – Use the MySAPS App to submit reports quickly and easily. – Encourage neighbours to do the same, as silence only empowers criminals. The mechanics of reporting a case – This service is provided to any victim of crime. Reporting a crime is free of charge, and all the necessary documentation will be completed by a police official. – A case docket will be opened and the crime will be investigated, hopefully leading to the arrest of suspects, and presentation of the case to the courts for prosecution. – When you have been a victim of a crime, you can contact the police by dialling 10111 if it is an emergency, or go to your nearest police station to report the crime. If you report by telephone or on the MySAPS App – If police officials attend the crime scene, they will obtain a statement from you and any available witnesses. – The official will register the case in the SAPS Crime Administration System (CAS) at the police station. – The complainant will receive a CAS number via SMS or telephone. – This number needs to be kept as a reference for future enquiries regarding the criminal case. If you report the crime in person – If you visit the local police station to report a crime, you will be attended to in the Community Service Centre by a police official. – The police official will first interview you and then take a statement from you. – The reported crime will be registered in the CAS. – You will be given a CAS number that must be used for all enquiries regarding the reported criminal case. Following up after reporting a crime – The completed case docket is allocated to a police detective who will carry out the investigation. – All enquiries can be directed to the detective. – The detective in charge of the particular case will complete the investigation and present the docket to the relevant court for prosecution. – The detective will keep you informed of any progress, including when to attend the court hearings. 'No report means no case, and no case means no accountability. Our strength lies in unity. Together, we can reclaim our neighbourhoods and make it clear that crime, no matter how small, will not be tolerated,' said Ruyter. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Strand CPF chairperson released on bail amid serious sexual assault charges
Niklaas Thysen was arrested for sex crimes against a minor. Image: File The chairperson of the Strand Community Police Forum (CPF) and a former police officer was released on bail following his arrest on multiple sexual assault-related charges involving a 15-year-old girl. Niklaas Thysen, 56, appeared in the Strand Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, facing charges including sexual assault, two counts of compelled self-sexual assault, two counts of crimen injuria, and exposing genital organs to a minor. The alleged incidents were first reported after the girl confided in her mother about two encounters with Thysen. The initial incident reportedly occurred at Thysen's workplace on July 3, 2025, during which the victim alleged inappropriate touching. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Following this incident, the girl attempted suicide the next day. 'He came to fetch her on 3 July, and when she came home, she said nothing; however, the following day, she attempted suicide. 'She didn't want to talk to me, and I called the accused, and she warned me not to call him; she didn't want him to come, but I thought it was because she didn't want to go back for counselling again. He came with someone else, they left, and he brought her home that evening, but then the accused asked me if she could spend the night at his place. My husband refused because he doesn't have a wife and lives alone.' According to the victim's mother, she had initially contacted Thysen seeking counselling for her daughter's drug use, as he was a known community leader. She stated that the girl had warned her not to contact Thysen after the first incident, and she initially believed her daughter's reluctance was related to counselling sessions rather than abuse. The mother only became aware of the alleged sexual assaults on July 30, 2025, following a second incident. The second alleged encounter took place on July 26, when the victim and a friend went with Thysen to his workplace. The mother stated that her daughter expressed fear of further assault, prompting her to stop all contact and report the matter to the police. Thysen was arrested on August 6, 2025, and remained in custody until he was released on R2,000 bail. During the hearing, Thysen's legal representative noted his 25-year career in the police, his role as a family breadwinner, and his work as a Tai Chi instructor and wellness centre operator. Thysen stated that he had no prior convictions, would comply with bail conditions, attend court hearings, and would not interfere with witnesses or evidence. He denied the allegations and intends to plead not guilty. Thysen also resigned as CPF chairperson upon learning of the investigation. The investigating officer reported that on July 3, Thysen took the victim to his workplace under the pretext of counselling, where he allegedly asked her to undress for a massage.
