Durban — A drug syndicate member was recently sentenced for drug dealing.
The crime dates back to October 2020 when two accused, Zolile Zikalala, 42, and Katlego Phahlane, 26, were intercepted on the N3 near Hilton in Pietermaritzburg.
They were found in possession of 30 000 mandrax tablets with a street value of about R1.5 million and were placed under arrest.
They were both released on bail and Phahlane was acquitted during the trial.
KwaZulu-Natal Hawks spokesperson Captain Simphiwe Mhlongo said: “On Tuesday, December 6, 2022, the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court convicted and sentenced Zolile Zikalala to 10 years imprisonment or to pay a fine of R1m for dealing in drugs.”
Mhlongo said Hawks members continued their intensive investigation and that led to the arrest of six more accused in May this year.
During their arrest, four jaws of crack cocaine and R54 080 cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime were seized.
“The six accused, Thembile Radebe, 50, Givenson Khumalo, 32, Nomusa Radebe, 44, Gugulethu Nkabini, 43, Themba Khumalo, 34, and Nokuthula Zuma, 45, will continue with their trial on February 3, 2023,” Mhlongo added.
The six made their first court appearance in the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court and were remanded in custody and the case was postponed for a formal bail application.
In the same month of May, the Hawks from Durban and Gauteng, working together with the Explosives Unit, seized R1.5m worth of mandrax tablets as well as firearms in Durban.
The seizure was made when the multidisciplinary team received information about a vehicle which allegedly contained drugs and firearms in Berea Centre, Durban.
They proceeded to the property and found the vehicle parked with no one in it.
A search was conducted and police found two bags containing 30 000 mandrax tablets with a street value of about R1.5m.
Six firearms, one stun grenade and 106 rounds of ammunition were also found in the same vehicle.
Daily News