Carlo Petersen15 May 2025 | 12:07

Butchery manager arrested in connection with Woodlands acid prank released on bail

Police arrested 53-year-old Nuruddin Tembe on Wednesday after a 17-year-old casual worker ingested the drain acid on Sunday.

Butchery manager arrested in connection with Woodlands acid prank released on bail

Mitchell's Moslem Butchery in Woodlands, Mitchells Plain, where a 17-year-old boy was allegedly pranked to drink drain acid. Picture: Carlo Petersen/EWN

CAPE TOWN - The manager of a Mitchells Plain butchery appeared in court on Thursday for attempted murder, after allegedly giving a 17-year-old boy acid to drink.

Police arrested 53-year-old Nuruddin Tembe on Wednesday after the teenager ingested the drain acid on Sunday.

Residents from Woodlands, where the incident happened, gathered at the Mitchells Plain Magistrates Court on Thursday to call for justice.

Tembe was granted R1,000 bail.

It's the State's case that Tembe gave the 17-year-old casual worker drain acid to drink from a cold drink bottle.

The State insisted that both the Woodlands community and the butchery's owners did not want Tembe to return to work.

Tembe's attorney, Asghar Mia, told the court that his client was asked not to return to work for his own safety after angry residents threatened to torch the butchery on Sunday.

The accused was warned to stay out of Woodlands.

He is due to appear in court again on 12 August.

ALSO READ: Community leader calls for calm in Mitchells Plain after teen pranked into drinking acid