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MBABANE – An elderly woman, who was found in possession of dagga worth a street value of E377 600, says she intended to take care of her abandoned grandchildren.
The dagga weighs 472kg. Phindile Dlamini (60) of Nsingweni under Chief Maloyi, was arrested at Mbadlane in the Lubombo Region on Monday. She was travelling with Sakane Dlamini (43) of Nsingweni in a Toyota D4D, registered ISD 328 DH.
Phindile stated that her elderly grant was not enough for her large family. She said, together with Sakane, they were taking the dagga home to package it for purposes of selling it. She said she would have used the money to fend for her family, including paying school fees for her grandchildren.
She also said the parents of her grandchildren did not assist her in taking care of their children. The elderly woman submitted that her grandchildren solely depended on her for their livelihood and they would suffer irreparable harm during her absence.
Dumped
“I am taking care of my many grandchildren who have been dumped by their parents. Being unemployed, and with such a big responsibility, I have turned to the dagga business. I have no other source of income apart from the elderly grant, which is nothing compared to my needs,” Phindile told the court.
She and Sakane were charged for contravening the Pharmacy Act 38/1938. The pair appeared at Siteki Magistrates Court yesterday, where they were remanded in custody pending the setting of their trial date. She told the court that she was sickly and her continued incarceration would cause her grandchildren to suffer since there would be nobody taking care of them.
According to Phindile, samples of the dagga were taken and the matter would resume once the results had been received. She stated that there was uncertainty as to when the results would be brought back.
In their application for bail, which they filed at the
High Court, Phindile said she would plead guilty to the charge. “I intend pleading guilty to the said offence without wasting the court’s time as the dagga belongs to me and not the second applicant (Sakane),” said Phindile.
The elderly woman informed the court that she was a first-time offender. She said she would abide by her bail conditions if she were to be released from custody. Phindile said she would not interfere with Crown witnesses, evidence and further investigations.
Her co-accused, Sakane, informed the court that he was unemployed. He stated that the mother of his two children was also unemployed. According *Not his real name to Sakane, his younger child was sickly and in-andout of hospital.
“My continued incarceration will cause permanent prejudice to her or even death,” he said.
Sakane submitted that he would neither evade trial nor interfere with potential Crown witnesses.
Judge Justice Mavuso heard the pair’s application for bail. The court granted their application and fixed the bail amount at E50 000. They were ordered to pay E5 000 in cash and provide sureties for the balance.
They were represented by Ernest Mavuso of E.M. MavusoAttorneys, based in Siteki. Crown Counsel Sibusiso Phakathi represented the Crown.