By Bahle Gama
The Nhlangano Magistrates Court has fined a man and woman E7,000 each after they were nabbed with dagga weighing 31.6kg by the police.
The duo Nduduzo Ndlangamandla (31) of Bhadzeni II and Fundile Mabuza (24) of Malangeni area were on July 12 arrested and charged with contravening Section 12 (1) (a) of the Pharmacy Act 38 of 1929 as amended at Sicunusa area.
Ndlangamandla and Mabuza were driving a red VW Polo sedan. They made their appearance before Senior Magistrate Joseph Dlamini on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, where they pleaded for the court’s leniency in handing down the sentence.
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The crown moved an application to have the dagga repossessed by the state to be destroyed, and the vehicle used to carry the dagga was released from police custody in terms of Section 12 (3) (b) of Pharmacy Act 38 of 1929.
The court sentenced the couple to three years in prison with an option to pay E7,000 each.
In the same court, 26-year-old Bongani Ndlovu of Emphelaphi was arrested and charged with two counts of housebreaking and theft along with the illegal possession of dagga.
According to his charge sheet, on March 7, 2024, with the intent to, he allegedly broke into Tholakele Shabangu’s house at Eposini and stole items valued at E5,290.
These included a Diamond TV set valued at E2,500, three blankets worth over E1,600, 10kg Sun Sun rice, Emandla meal mealie, an electric adapter, and spices of different flavours.
On April 30, 2024, he allegedly broke into Shabalala’s house again and items worth over E23,000.
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These included kitchen utensils worth E10,350, a gas stove valued at E3,500, a generator worth E2,000, a 9kg Handigas cylinder at E650, clothes and shoes valued at E3,000, water heating bucket at E200, one blanket worth E300 and a spade and pickaxe valued at E300 amongst other things.
On July 12, 2024, near Ehhometini, Ndlovu was arrested and charged with contravening Section 12 (1) (a) of the Pharmacy Act 38 of 1929 as amended for the illegal possession of dagga weighing 0.65kg.
During his court appearance, he opted to conduct his defence and the Crown moved an application to have him remanded back to police custody until September 16, 2024.
