2 men ined E5 000 for dagga possession

MBABANE – Yesterday, two people were fined E5 000 or five years in imprisonment after they were guilty for possession of dagga.

The duo, Khetsiwe Maphanga (39) of Maphalaleni and Sizwe Shiba (38) of Dlangeni were found in possession of dagga weighing 12.9 and 7.4 kilograms respectively and appeared before Senior Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati.

Maphanga was represented by her lawyer Sivesonkhe Ngwenya from Linda Dlamini and Associates, while Shiba represented himself.

Vilakati found the duo guilty of contravening Section 12(1) (a) as read with Section 12(1) (i) of the Pharmacy Act No.38/1929 (as amended).

Vilakati said it was noticed by the number of such cases coming to court almost every day that people were making a living by farming and selling dagga.

Constitution

He said nonetheless, the Constitution categorised dagga as poisonous due to the effects it had on those who misused it.

He told Maphanga that whenever she sold dagga, she should know that it may reach someone’s child who might get affected.

He said as Maphanga would not love to see anything bad happening to her five children, she must also consider other parents’ children whom the dagga might reach.

The magistrate said he understood that the duo had no record of previous conviction.

During mitigation, both accused persons pleaded guilty and pleaded for the court’s leniency as they were just trying to make a living through selling the dagga.

Shiba, in particular, said he had a minor child whom he needed to provide for as he was not employed.

Similarly, Maphanga, through her lawyer told the court that she had five schoolgoing children who were fully dependent on her while she was also not employed.