Seven people have been arrested for stealing infant formula worth R120 000.00 from Eastern Cape Health, meant to be distributed to malnourished babies. About 500 boxes containing 12 000 400g tins of Nan Pelargon formula were stolen from a container at Department of Health premises in Libode near Mthatha on 26 July 2009.
Those arrested include four health officials. "Two business people, a Somali and a Bangladeshi, who were selling the formula tins for R39.99 each were arrested on Monday," said provincial health spokeperson Sizwe Kupelo.
An Angolan, the alleged supplier to the businessmen, was the first arrest in this case, was taken into custody last week and appeared in the Libode Magistrate's Court on Friday. On Monday, the police then nabbed the two businessmen and four health department officials.
Kupelo said the container from which the tins were stolen had not been broken into, the burglars obviously had a copy of the key. "Four officials from the Department of Health appeared briefly in court on Tuesday and were remanded in custody until Friday, alongside the two businessmen. The department has conducted its own investigations and has handed over more information to the police. We expect more arrests," said Kupelo.
For the July month, Eastern Cape Health ordered 44 000 boxes of infant formula more than a million tins for the entire province at a cost of R7.5 million.
"In Libode we lost about 500 boxes that were stolen and those have since been recovered from two business premises operating in that town. We are spending taxpayers' money to buy this milk for the poor, to give it for free to malnourished children and also for HIV positive women who choose not to breastfeed. It is unfortunate that we when we try as government to improve the lives of people there are those hell-bent on destroying such efforts," said Kupelo.
This is not the first incident of its kind in the province as earlier this year, a driver who was sent to collect an order in Mthatha was caught selling the formula to hawkers. In King William's Town late last year, another driver was arrested for the same offence.
Kupelo warned the public not to buy any 'Nan and/or Pelargon' formula tins marked "Not for resale" as they will be charged for assisting in committing a crime.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
5 August 2009
Source: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za/)
