Drug mule fails to get bail at Kempton Park Regional Court
The accused is a risk taker and avoiding her court attendance would be nothing compared to what she did by swallowing drugs.
Suspected drug mule Mmantwa Tshabalala appeared in the Kempton Park Regional Court on October 22, which postponed her case to October 30.
Prosecutor Takalani Mukhumo presented a statement from the investigating officer opposing bail, detailing the circumstances of Tshabalala’s arrest and the State’s concerns.
He recounted that Tshabalala was intercepted on September 29 after a flight from São Paulo, Brazil.
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He highlighted the sequence of her trip, noting passport stamps that showed she arrived in São Paulo on September 20 and departed on September 28.
Mukhumo argued that her newly issued passport, received in July, was likely obtained specifically for this trip, indicating premeditation.
Tshabalala’s actions, Mukhumo claimed, confirmed the planned nature of the offence. She swallowed the drugs, making it difficult for law enforcement to detect them.
After landing, Tshabalala was taken to the Arwyp Hospital, where X-rays confirmed foreign objects in her body.
She subsequently discharged the contents, yielding about 1.4kg of suspected cocaine with a street value nearing R588 000.
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Mukhumo argued that Tshabalala’s travel history and connections abroad made her a flight risk because a friend reportedly funded her trip to Brazil.
“If released, she could abscond to avoid sentencing,” he stated.
Tshabalala’s lack of property, stable employment, and ties to SA also raised concerns about her potential to evade justice.
During proceedings on October 15, Tshabalala’s lawyer requested the media exit the courtroom, enabling her to share confidential details with the State.
However, Mukhumo reported that Tshabalala offered no information about her role in the trafficking or her recruitment.
The prosecutor highlighted the severe consequences of drug trafficking, particularly cocaine, classified under the highest-risk category in the Drugs and Drug Trafficking Act of 1992.
He warned that releasing Tshabalala would send a harmful message nationally and internationally, potentially encouraging other drug mules.
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Mukhumo asserted that no bail conditions could prevent Tshabalala from fleeing, emphasising that she has no fixed ties to SA.
He noted that her actions demonstrated a disregard for her safety, suggesting she is “capable of anything if motivated by financial gain”.
He concluded that Tshabalala’s release would be against the interests of justice and asked the court to deny bail.
Under Section 60(4)(e) of Act 51 of 1977, he stressed that the rising drug addiction crisis in SA demanded strict measures to curb illegal drug imports.
