Two people — a South African man and a woman from Eswatini — have been sentenced for dealing in dagga following their arrest near the Waverley/Dumberton borderline in Mpumalanga.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mahlubi Dlamini (26) and Nelisiwe Nokwazi Lukhele (31) were each sentenced by the Mayflower Periodical Court to six months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that they are not convicted of a similar offence during that time.
They were also fined R15 000 or face an additional six months in prison. Both have been declared unfit to possess firearms.
The pair were arrested on 21 October 2025 after police officers on patrol stopped and searched a Ford Ranger with Gauteng registration plates, discovering 12 dagga rolls and three sacks wrapped in black plastic bags. The confiscated dagga weighed 50.28 kilograms, with an estimated street value of R211 176.
Police confirmed that the vehicle belongs to a person from Eswatini, and investigations are continuing to determine whether it was used in other crimes.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the outcome, saying the police remain committed to stopping drug trafficking in the province.
“Our roads cannot be used to traffic dagga. Those who continue to do so will find themselves behind bars,” said Major General Mkhwanazi.
The swift action by police and the court’s firm sentence were praised as an example of ongoing efforts to curb drug-related crimes in border areas of Mpumalanga.
