Three workers at Gubta meats who were arrested following a raid at a butchery in the Western Cape in November have abandoned their application for bail.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Western Cape confirmed that Kondwani Mwezhande, 29, Smart Chipod, 25, both Malawian nationals and Abduaallah Abdinour, a Somalian national made an appearance in court on Monday where they abandoned their application for bail.
The owners of Gubta Meat Abdi Kadiye, 34, and Mohammed Ali Ahmed, 36, both Somali nationals are expected to apply for bail, NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said.
Their court appearance follows a raid by the The City of Cape Town and police at a make-shift butchery in Mfuleni in November.
Acting on a tip-off authorities found sausages being prepared in unsanitary conditions.
The butchery was immediately closed and the place declared a crime scene.
The employees face charges of contravention of the Immigration Act, which is being in the country illegally without the necessary papers.
“They are also charged with illegal production and operation of a producing meat products without the legal certificate to do so.”
The owners are charged with contravention of the Food Stuff and Cosmetics Act 54 of 1972.
“Which is the illegal production and operation of a butchery producing meat products without the legal certificate to do so,” the NPA earlier explained.
Charges against a minor who was also arrested during the raid was withdrawn.
IOL News