ACCUSED SENTENCED FOR DEALING IN DRUGS
MPUMALANGA — Bonginkosi Zwelibanzi Manana(33) pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years imprisonment by Standerton Regional Court on Friday, 08 December 2023 for dealing in drugs.
The accused sentencing came after he was arrested by Ermelo and Standerton K9 unit members on 23 January 2023. Members were on duty when receiving information regarding a suspicious motor vehicle, a Nissan Navara bakkie, that was traveling on the R35 road between Morgenzon and Amersfort, transporting cannabis. The K9 members followed up on the information.
Whilst driving towards Amersfort, a vehicle matching the description was spotted. Members switched on emergency lights and tried to stop the vehicle. While trying to flee, the suspects vehicle overturned, and two male accupants came out with slight injuries. K9 members introduced themselves and interviewed the driver who introduced himself as Saluleko Samora Dladla from Swaziland.
He was asked about the bags that were found in the vehicle wrapped with brown tape. The driver informed them that it was dagga from Swaziland. Both accused were then arrested, and dagga to the estimated value of R450 000.00 was confiscated.
The case was then transferred to the Hawks Secunda based Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit for further investigation.
Both accused, Saluleko Samora Dladla(43) and Bonginkosi Zwelibanzi Manana(33), appeared before Morgenzon Magistrate Court on several occassions and the matter was transferred to Standerton Regional Court.
On Friday 08 December 2023, Manana pleaded guilty, and he was sentenced to three years imprisonment, which is wholly suspended for five years, and he was also declared unfit to possess a firearm.
Charges against Saluleko Samora Dladla were withdrawn.
