Cats Found Feasting on Meat at Siesta MTN Butchery During Johannesburg CBD Inspection

• Inspectors from the Department of Employment and Labour raided the Siesta MTN Butchery in Johannesburg's CBD on 21 August 2026
• Cats were spotted eating meat intended for sale, and officials also flagged unlabelled products with no expiry dates during the blitz
• The floor manager said the cats came from a neighbouring business, but inspectors disputed his account based on a previous visit

JOHANNESBURG — A compliance inspection at the Siesta MTN Butchery in Johannesburg's CBD on 21 August 2026 turned into a public spectacle after officials discovered cats roaming freely and feeding on meat that was destined for sale to customers. The raid occurred months after undocumented workers were found at the raid.

The raid formed part of a High Impact Blitz Inspection co-led by City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth. The inspections target key sectors to verify compliance with labour laws, immigration legislation and municipal bylaws.

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Floor manager disputes responsibility for cats

When confronted by officials, the butchery's floor manager refused to accept accountability for the animals' presence on the premises. He told inspectors that the cats originated from a neighbouring business and entered the butchery daily, maintaining that it was not his responsibility to address the health and safety concerns raised during the raid.

Inspectors pushed back on this explanation. During a previous visit to the premises, officials said they had found a dedicated room containing multiple cats. One inspector noted that the manager had even insisted the cats bring their kittens in, and when asked why he had not prevented this, he said he was unable to do so.

The floor manager also confirmed he was unaware that meat products were required to carry expiry date labels, a basic food safety requirement that inspectors flagged as a further violation.

View a video of the inspection:

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Public reaction to the butchery raid

The video posted by Morero drew swift and pointed reactions from South Africans online.

@Zanele Mbambo wrote:

"We all love cats, but not in the place where you're preparing the food for different people; some people have allergies."

@MmaMotjatji Sebetseba posted:

"Joooooh ! Food safety!! Food safety!!! Food safety 😳😳😳😳😳."

@Andy Bankx quipped:

"Oh, it's a butcher... I thought it was a Cat manufacturing company🤦"

@Themba Penelope said:

"I am full. I don't even want food anymore, eish."

Home Affairs arrests employers hiring undocumented foreign nationals

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the joint nationwide inspections conducted by Home Affairs and Labour, focusing on factories employing undocumented foreign nationals. The government’s intensified crackdown aims to hold employers accountable for illegal employment practices, with recent arrests in Tshwane underscoring the serious ramifications for non-compliance.

Source: Briefly News