Mbabane – After two people, man and woman, were arrested at Nkomanzi for dagga and dagga seeds possession facing two counts, one of them has been acquitted and discharged.
The woman, Lindokuhle Bonakele Dlamini, (18) of Kaphunga who was the second accused, left her co-accused, Linda Magagula, (27) of Nkomazi, first accused, to face the charges.
The man, Magagula, pleaded guilty to both counts. In mitigation, he asked for leniency, stating in the court that he was hustling to provide for his three children who are solely dependent on him.
Accused 2, Dlamini, pleaded not guilty to both charges. After the court assessed the evidence, she was acquitted and discharged.
Both made their first court appearance at the Mbabane Magistrates Court on Monday initially charged for violating the Pharmacy Act of 1929 and the Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs Act of 1922.
On the first count, the accused contravened Section 12(1)(a) as read with Section 12(1)(c)(i) of the Pharmacy Act No. 38 of 1929, as amended, after being found in unlawful possession of 18.1kg of dagga, a potentially poisonous substance, without a valid permit or licence. The offence was allegedly committed on December 5, 2025, at or near Nkomanzi.
On the second count, under Section 7 as read with Section 8(1) of the same Act, as amended, the accused was found in unlawful possession of 3.8kg of dagga seeds, also without a valid permit.
Principal Magistrate, Fikile Nhlabatsi, issued her sentence of a E7 000 fine for the first count, or 5 years imprisonment in default of payment upon the man. Dlamini was also ordered to pay a fine of E2 000 fine for the second count, in default of payment of 2 years imprisonment.
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