Police bust sellers of expired goods
On 17 May 2025, The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) Priority Committee on Food borne Illness and Illicit Trade set up operations in Pretoria West. They visited multiple warehouses to inspect whether any illicit sale of expired consumable goods was taking place.
The multi-disciplinary NATJOINTS team comprised of members of the South African Police Service and Department of Home Affairs officials. Labour inspectors, municipal health inspectors, Tshwane Emergency Management Services and Crime Prevention Wardens were also part of the operation.
'The operation led to the arrest of twelve suspects for contravention of the Immigration Act. Two business owners were fined for employing these undocumented foreign nationals', said SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Amanda van Wyk.
During the operation, municipal health inspectors identified warehouses that were in contravention of health and safety regulations.
'The team closed down four warehouses and seized a large consignment of illicit goods and expired consumables', said van Wyk.
According to van Wyk, fines and notices were also issued to the owners of the warehouses. They were for non-compliance of health and safety regulations.
In 2024, more than 23 children of primary school-going age died after consuming snacks and food they had bought at local spaza shops. Many others were hospitalised, also from food poisoning related illnesses.
The deaths caused national outcry and the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, identified Terbufos (an organophosphate) as the cause of death. According to a report by the Health Department, Terbufos is normally used by farmers as a soil insecticide. They use it to control various pests in crops like corn, sorghum, and sugar beets. The insecticide mostly kills soil insects such as corn rootworm, wireworms, and white grubs.
Spaza shops were also on the receiving end of public scrutiny, as many claimed the deaths were as a result of the sale of expired and poisoned goods.
van Wyk said SAPS are doing their best to keep citizens safe and avoid what happened last year. She urged South African's to also play their part.
'SAPS encourages all community members to form part of the fight against food borne illness and illicit trade by reporting suspected non-compliance to relevant authorities', said van Wyk.
She said the operation that took place in Pretoria today, is part of an ongoing multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation. She said police are pouncing at various places across the country daily.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Asset Forfeiture Unit to pounce on Delmas primary school worker
On 5 June 2025, a former financial officer at Delmas Primary School appeared before the Delmas Regional Court. 52-year-old Larrisa Vern has been convicted of fraud and money laundering. She is accused of stealing more than R2 million from the school over a period of two years. 'Vern was appointed in her position in December 2021 and assumed her duties in January 2022,' said Mpumalanga Hawks spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Magonseni Nkosi. Shortly after joining the school, a whistleblower notified the authorities about Vern's criminal activities. The whistleblower reported that Vern had made two bonus payments to her bank account. Today in Delmas Regional Court, the Asset Forfeiture Unit presented their case as to why Vern should have her assets confiscated and a possible lengthier sentence. 'The matter was referred to the Hawks for investigation. The team of investigators managed to secure a warrant of arrest on 06 February 2024 that resulted in her arrest three days later on 09 February 2024,' said Nkosi. He said as the investigation continued, more dirty linen was uncovered by the Hawks. It was established that Vern caused an actual loss of R2 792 912.58 to Delmas Primary School. According to Nkosi, Vern allegedly paid money to four different bank accounts using different references. After making the payments, she then transferred the monies into her main account. Nkosi said the state successfully proved 94 counts of fraud and 555 counts of money laundering. Vern pleaded guilty on all charges before Delmas Regional Court on 21 May 2025. She was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for fraud. Five of the years are suspended for five years, on condition that she is not involved in fraudulent activities during the time of suspension. Vern was sentenced to a further ten years in prison for money laundering. Both sentences will run concurrently. The Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Major General Nico Gerber, has commended the team of investigators for the work they did on the case. He said the prosecution team handled the case in an excellent manner. 'The next step is to seize the proceeds she accumulated through her criminal activities. Gone are the days that you can benefit from your criminal deeds,' he said. DO YOU THINK 15 YEARS IS AN ADEQUATE SENTENCE FOR FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Two Oceans Marathon organisers respond to High Court ruling
The Two Oceans Marathon NPC has responded to the ruling handed down by the Gauteng High Court on Thursday. The social media post read: 'The Two Oceans Marathon NPC acknowledges the recent High Court judgment concerning public commentary made about the organisation and its leadership. 'While the matter was dismissed, we note that the judgement was based on procedural grounds – 𝙣𝙤𝙩 on the factual correctness, ethical appropriateness or moral acceptability of the statements made. It therefore cannot be said that the statements made were found to be truthful, justified, or ethically appropriate. 'As an organisation, we welcome constructive criticism and learn profoundly from it. However, we believe that such engagement must be 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴, including runners, those who serve the organisation, suppliers and stakeholders. 'As one of Africa's most iconic running events, we value fair criticism and a spirit of public engagement that falls within the boundaries of what can be considered fundamentally decent and respectful.' In the Gauteng High Court case between Two Oceans chairperson Toni Cavanagh (first applicant) and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC (second applicant) and Stuart Mann (respondent), the Honourable Judge Yacoob ruled emphatically against Cavanagh and the TOM NPC granting a costs order on scale C (the most severe possible outcome). This will reportedly cost Cavanagh and the TOM NPC around R400 000. Whether Cavanagh will cough up the cash herself or turn to the NPC for help remains to be seen. The full 15-page judgement can be found HERE This developing news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. The future of the Two Oceans Marathon is in serious doubt after the City of Cape Town pulled its sponsorship of the event following a number of flagrant contraventions of conditions by the organisers of this year's race. Organisers were on the receiving end of more criticism this year – as is seemingly the case every year – as runners took to social media in their droves to vent their unhappiness and frustration. Runners lashed out at the organisers for – among many other things – shocking (read: no) communication pre-race, a lack of sufficient markings on the trail race, goodie bags hardly worth taking home, a lack of water tables during the race and running out of medals for finishers. Race director Hilton Kearns is on record as saying they 'overcompensated in predicting the number of silver medallists they expected and did not have enough bronze medals'. This was proven to be a lie by well-known South African runner and blogger, Stuart Mann, who, writing on his blog ' The Running Mann ' this week exposed the latest untruth. Mann ran the numbers and the percentage of silver medallists in the Two Oceans Half Marathon has been the same for the last three years: 1.3%. A mere 234 runners earned silver medals, while 17 443 runners earned bronze this year. The real reason the race ran out of thousands of bronze medals was the fact they accepted – and took payment for – more entries than they were allowed by the City of Cape Town. Meanwhile, according to Two Oceans chairperson Toni Cavanagh, the race has struggled to rope in enough sponsors since emerging from the Covid pandemic a few years ago. While they appreciated the support from current headline sponsor Totalsports – and the runners who paid entry fees – they are falling short of the claimed nearly R27 million required to organise the event. RELATED | Tributes pour in for runner after tragic death at Two Oceans Marathon In the irony of all ironies, just two short years ago prior to taking over as Two Oceans chairperson, Cavanagh took to social media to slate the race organisers following her 'fudging ridiculous' experience at race collection back in 2023. The South African website has in its possession a letter of demand to cease and desist from the Two Oceans Marathon NPC and Toni Cavanagh sent to Mann on Wednesday. The South African website also has it on good authority that Mann plans to neither cease nor desist from exposing the truth. It appears clear that the City of Cape Town is siding with Mann – and the truth. In a response sent to The South African website on Thursday, the City confirmed: 'Following the Two Oceans Half Marathon on Sunday, 6 April 2025, the City of Cape Town's Events Permitting Office discovered that the Two Oceans Marathon race management allowed more participants to take part in the half marathon than what was approved in the official permit. 'The Two Oceans Marathon race management contravened conditions of its permit and subsequently the Events By-Law by allowing more than the permitted number of runners to take part. 'This is a complete disregard of the months of work behind the scenes to plan the logistics and safety measures in place around the event. 'The contravention of stipulated permit conditions places at risk the safety of people taking part in events. 'The sponsorship agreement between the City of Cape Town and the agreement between the City and the Two Oceans Marathon NPC is clear that any breach of permit will result in the municipality pulling sponsorship of the event. 'The Two Oceans Marathon NPC was notified of the City's decision withdraw support on 10 April 2025. 'The City provides support in kind in the form of municipal services which assist in the event safety and logistics planning for the Two Oceans Marathon. 'The City's actions pertain specifically to its sponsorship of the Two Oceans Marathon – the Event Organiser can continue to apply for permits through the normal channels, as they are required to do in any event – irrespective of City sponsorship.' Quite how the Two Oceans Marathon plans on holding an event without the sponsorship of the City of Cape Town remains to be seen, considering the lack of funding alluded to by the organisers themselves. Whether any other sponsors wish to come on board and be associated with the race and its current Board remains to be seen. In addition, race founder Celtic Harriers (a club which still receives royalties from the Two Oceans brand, but is no longer involved in the organisation) has said it wants to meet with the Two Oceans board out of concern for the future of the race. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
TimesLIVE
an hour ago
- TimesLIVE
Miner killed at Carletonville mine, says Amcu
A miner died in an accident at Blyvoor Gold Mine in Carletonville, Gauteng, on Wednesday, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) reported on Thursday. The union said at about 10.50am on Wednesday there was a fall of ground which resulted in injuries to the employee. Paramedics were dispatched to the scene and the injured employee was pronounced dead at 11.15am. The union said the high number of fall of ground-related injuries were indicators that the mining industry was heading in the wrong direction in fatality prevention. It said this was the 12th fall of ground-related fatality in the industry this year, while there were 107 fall of ground-related injuries. 'This brings the total fatalities to 26 in the South African mining industry.' This is 12 more fatalities compared with the same period last year. The union said the Mine Health and Safety Act must be amended to hold mine bosses personally liable when workers were killed on their watch. 'How many more must die before the law catches up with reality? Amcu repeats its call for urgent legislative reform, including executive criminal liability for repeated fatal incidents and compulsory, independent fall of ground audits in high-risk shafts. Workers are not collateral damage.'
