2 men arrested for dagga
MBABANE – “Illegal as it may be, many families are sustained through dagga farming and some parents pay school from dagga proceeds but we cannot turn a blind eye on the offence as long as there is a law.”
This was said by Senior Mbabane Magistrate Sifiso Vilakati when dealing with the case of Mandla Tsabedze, who was found in illegal possession of dagga weighing 35kg while at his homestead at Eluvinjelweni at Maphalaleni.
Tsabedze was arrested during a dagga operation in the area, according to Constable Thami Mabuza, the leading investigator in the matter.
Mabuza told the court that he and other police officer discovered the dagga in different houses after Tsabedze had given them permission to search the houses.
Mitigating on the sentence, Lawyer Sabelo ‘Chicken’ Dlamini, who represented Tsabedze in the matter, pleaded for the court’s leniency.
Dlamini brought it to the court’s attention that Tsabedze had 16 dependants, including his children. The lawyer admitted that Tsabedze was trying to make short-cuts so that he could put food on the table.
Cultivating
Magistrate Vilakati stated that in as much as it was common cause that many families, especially in the rural areas, earned a living through cultivating and selling dagga, the law had not changed that possession of dagga without a valid license was a prosecutable offence.
Tsabedze was sentenced to seven years imprisonment with an option to pay a fine of E7 000.
Three years and E3 000 of the fine were wholly suspended for the period of three years.
Meanwhile, in the same court, a man of Nkwalini openly told the court that he was selling dagga when he appeared charged with illegal possession of dagga weighing 2kg. Mcebisi Nyamane told the court that he sold the dagga in sloops. He stated that he sold the herb to anyone; however, he was quick to state that he did not sell it to pupils and people of his age.
“Stop telling a lie. I used to smoke buy dagga but I never bought it from a young man like you. It is clear that you are selling the herb to pupils and people of your age,” said Senior Magistrate Vilakati before sentencing Nyamane to one year with the option to pay a fine of E1 000.
Nyamane indicated that he had the fine when asked by the court.