Gauteng woman arrested for possession of stolen groceries intended for disadvantaged schoolchildren

A 42-year-old woman has been arrested for being in possession of suspected stolen groceries intended for the school nutrition programme for disadvantaged children – in Bluegumview, Duduza near Nigel on the East Rand, Gauteng police said on Saturday.

The woman’s arrest came after South African Police Service (SAPS) sector police officers followed up on information about a syndicate involved in “the delivery of school groceries intended for the school nutritional programme”,  Sergeant Harry Manaka said.

“Police received information about a truck that was delivering food intend for the school at a house in Bluegumview. On arrival, the delivery truck had already driven off from the said house. Police found the groceries worth thousands [of rand] in the house belonging to a female, and wasted no time in arresting her,” he said.

Police discovered that the truck and its occupants were stealing the food meant for schoolchildren and selling it. Investigations were continuing and more arrests would follow.

The groceries, including mielie meal, milk, and fish, were booked as exhibits and later handed over to the school principal. Community members had alerted police and had not turned a blind eye while the school “is ripped off” of its services that were meant to benefit disadvantaged children, Manaka said.

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