The Eastern Cape health department has set up a specialised task team to probe the large-scale theft of milk formula, spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said on Monday.
He said the department had received information that stolen formula was being sold widely at spaza shops and general dealers in rural areas of the province.
It was working closely with police on these reports, and expected arrests to follow.
The department supplies the formula to HIV-positive mothers as a breast milk substitute, and to malnourished children.
Kupelo said a security guard arrested last week with 170 tins in his possession would appear in Libode Magistrate’s Court on Monday, seeking bail.
The guard worked for a company contracted to the department.
Appearing in the same court would be a department driver, whose arrest last week was linked to that of last month’s arrests of five department officials and three businessmen. — Sapa