MALALANE – On Monday a 41-year-old mother of four was found guilty of the possession of dagga in the Malalane Periodical Court.
Sibongile Nkosi was arrested on Friday afternoon during a roadblock on the N4.
She was in possession of 4,20 kilograms of dagga which she alleged she was on route to deliver in Pienaar.
Magistrate Mr Christopher Heath, informed the accused that she could be facing a maximum of 15 years in prison for being in possession of dagga, and 25 years for dealing with dagga.
Nkosi pleaded guilty as charged and admitted to dagga being an illegal substance, which could also be harmful to its user.
She furthermore admitted to the court that she didn’t have a permit allowing her to be in possession of the dagga, and knew what she was doing was wrong.
“After questioning you, the court is satisfied that you are guilty, and therefore finds you guilty as charged,” Heath said.
In the accused’s submission for mercy she submitted to the court that she was a single parent of four with a monthly income of no more than R700.
She explained that the amount she would have received from the transaction was R1 600, after having purchased the dagga for R750.
“I wanted to assist one of my older children in getting a driver’s license. I committed an offence, it was my first and last time. I beg for mercy, I will never commit such an offence again,” Nkosi explained.
The state proposed Heath handed downed a fine of R4 000, of which half would be suspended.
In handing down his sentencing, Heath considered all facts brought to the court.
He said, “You have explained to the court that you bought the dagga for R750 in Mgobudzi, and were on your way going to sell it in Pienaar. This is a serious offence, yes you were charged for possession and not dealing, but as I had explained earlier, you could be facing 15 years for possession of dagga. You will however be sentenced for possession as charged, and not for dealing.”
Heath continued, “You are sentenced to six months imprisonment or a R4 000 fine, of which half is suspended for five years on condition you don’t appear before a court of law on the same charge.”
In his closing remarks Heath said, “Next time be careful. Your children are still young. And you could find yourself behind bars in future.”
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