Mbabane – A 42-year-old mother of five from Malanti got more than she bargained for when the Mbabane Magistrates Court fined her a combined E11 000 fines for illegally being found in possession of over 42 kilograms of dagga and dagga seeds stashed in her home.
Appearing in court on Thursday, Ncamsile Khetsiwe Shiba faced two counts contravening the Pharmacy Act of 1929 and the Opium and Habit-Forming Drugs Act of 1922.
The first count was Shiba was found unlawfully in possession of dagga weighing 42.8kg. The second count was for that she had at her home 0.621kg of dagga seeds, both classified as poisonous substances.
Shiba said desperation pushed her to commit the crimes. She appeared remorseful and pleaded for leniency.
She told the magistrate that she was unemployed and was struggling to provide for her five children, the eldest being only 15.
“I am sorry for what I did. I was only trying to make ends meet,” she said.
The magistrate, while acknowledging her plea, emphasized that poverty could not justify breaking the law.
“Many people are unemployed, but they do not resort to crime,” the court ruled.
The court then handed the sentence which is a fine of E10,000 or five years imprisonment for the first count, and E1000 or ten months imprisonment for the second count. The sentences will run concurrently. The dagga was confiscated by the state to be disposed of accordingly.
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