The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has provided more details regarding the recall of certain batches of Citro-Soda.

During a briefing on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, SAHPRA confirmed that the recall follows the identification of a potential risk of foreign material contamination during an inspection conducted at the Adcock Ingram Clayville, Johannesburg, manufacturing facility.

As a precautionary measure, SAHPRA took regulatory action to recall the affected batches of these products. The affected batch numbers all start with the letter C.

The health regulatory authority says every other batch, manufactured outside of Clayville, is safe for use.

SAHPRA says pieces of black fragments were found in the product, which it suspects may be from the worn-out conveyor belts at the manufacturing facility.

SAHPRA Inspectorate and Regulatory Compliance Head Lebohang Mazibuko said:

“We found presence of metal fragments from the manufacturer equipment and some inkmown black particles from those manufacturing equipment. So, those metal fragments were from the manufacturing vessels that are used to manufacture this product. Hence we say you cannot consume a metal and be well after that.”

The recall is limited to specific batches of the following Citro-Soda Regular products:

• Citro-Soda Regular 60 g
• Citro-Soda Regular 120 g
• Citro-Soda Regular 4 g x 30 Sachets

Action to be taken

Retail pharmacies, wholesalers, and distribution centres have been instructed to cease the sale of affected batches and to return all stock to their respective suppliers.

Consumers who have purchased the affected products are advised to return them to the nearest health facility, pharmacy, or store.

Members of the public who may have consumed the affected products and are experiencing any adverse side effects are urged to visit their nearest health facility and report such incidents to SAHPRA.

SAHPRA CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela says the safety and well-being of the public remain their highest priority.

All affected batches are to be destroyed.

For a full list of affected batches, please click here.

A 43-year-old man has been arrested following failed attempts to bribe an officer at a vehicle checkpoint in Bellville earlier today.

Metro Police Neighborhood Safety Officers were conducting standard operations along Durban Road when they pulled over a Toyota Quantum.

At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary until the driver stepped out and subtly tried to block access to the vehicle’s sliding door.

Metro Police spokesperson Ruth Solomons says an excessive amount of counterfeit shoes were found in the suspect’s possession once officers were able to search his vehicle.

“He appeared nervous, and officers requested permission to conduct a search. Officers recovered 20 duffel bags of counterfeit shoes and sneakers.”

Solomons says they were left completely amazed when the suspect offered them R2000 as bribe money for his release.

“The 43-year-old was arrested and detained at Bellville SAPS for bribery and possession of counterfeit goods.”

A 27-year-old man is set to appear before the Oudtshoorn Magistrates’ Court tomorrow on charges of human trafficking, following his arrest earlier today.

The suspect was arrested following an extensive investigation by the Hawks’ George-based Serious Organised Crime Investigation team.

Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi says the investigation revealed a disturbing story of exploitation.

The suspect allegedly lured the victim from Egypt, promising them a legitimate job in South Africa. But instead of an opportunity, the victim was met with coercion and abuse.

“After arriving in the country, his travel documents were confiscated by the suspect. The victim allegedly worked for the suspect without getting paid and was assaulted.”

Agri Western Cape says it is aware of farmers experiencing ongoing challenges with diesel supply at certain retail depots, particularly in rural agriculture production areas.

The key concern is that supply is not consistently reaching the retail level.

Agri Western Cape says they have already received reports of “dry” depots, meaning that producers are unable to access diesel despite its broader availability.

The Western Cape and National governments have both reiterated that there is enough fuel supply in the province and the country, and cautioned against hoarding.

Agri WC CEO Jannie Strydom says they are deeply concerned about the situation.

“Diesel is a critical input for agriculture operations – from planting and harvesting to transport and logistics. Any disruption in supply poses direct risks to production, food security and the sustainability of farming operations.”

Strydom has called on all stakeholders in the fuel value chain to ensure full transparency and to address any bottlenecks at the distribution level without delay.

He says the matter requires immediate intervention to prevent further disruption in the agricultural sector.

Agri WC has already escalated the issue to the Provincial Disaster Management Department and Premier Alan Winde.

Winde has acknowledged that there are constraints in the system, but it has nothing to do with actual supply shortages.

He says they are investigating where and why supply disruptions are occurring, while monitoring the impact on key sectors like agriculture and transport.