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‘BANGITUMILE’

29/04/2016 04:44:00 BY JABULISA DLAMINI

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MANZINI – An elderly woman, aged 73, was arrested by the police after she was found in possession of dagga weighing 68.6 kilogrammes valued at E54 880.

“Eyi, mtfwanami bangitumile labafana, bengisatsi, ngisatoyifihla,” she said, loosely translated, the police came unannounced just when I was about to hide it. The woman said this before her appearance in court yesterday.
Elizabeth Dlamini, of Mahlangatsha, appeared before Principal Magistrate David Khumalo.

She was represented by Simo Simelane of SP Mamba Attorneys, who requested the court to be lenient with his client when passing sentence as she was preparing to mourn the death of her grandson when the police arrested her on Wednesday. The attorney further stated that the offender was sickly and needed medical attention every now and then.

The elderly woman also had the support of her four children, who had come to court for her trial.
The charge sheet states that on Wednesday morning, Dlamini was found in possession of the dagga without a valid permit or licence. She was charged with contravening the Pharmacy Act.

Charged

In the second count, the offender was charged with contravening the Opium and Habit Forming Drug Act, in that on the same day, Dlamini was found in possession of 70 branches of dagga without a valid permit or licence.
The principal magistrate warned the offender against dealing in dagga as it had ruined the future of a lot of people, mostly the youth.

“I have considered that you pleaded guilty to the offence, however, the court would like to sternly advise you to stop thinking dagga will make your life easier as it is going to ruin it and also those of other people,” the principal magistrate said.
Dlamini was sentenced to four years imprisonment with an option of a E10 000 fine, half of the sentence was suspended for a period of one year. The offender’s fine, E5 000, was paid immediately after her appearance in court.