Bail for alleged smugglers

GEORGE NEWS - The five alleged drug smugglers who where arrested by the Hawks Serious Organised Crime team during a multidisciplinary operation in Thembalethu and the Eastern Cape earlier this year, were granted bail in the George Magistrate's Court on Tuesday 15 February.

Three of them, Lindela Lofani (44), Hlalanathi Lofani (46) and Mzimasi Lofani (41), were arrested in Thembalethu on Monday 31 January. Co-accused Bongani Kenny Mgqatse (51) was arrested in Gqeberha on the same day.

The fifth suspect, Someleze Nkawule (32), was arrested in Thembalethu a day after his alleged accomplices and made his first court appearance on Wednesday 2 February.

The cases were combined and all five accused again appeared together the following Friday. They face charges of dealing in illicit drugs (cannabis) and contravening the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. The combined exact value of the cannabis could not be confirmed by George Herald, but is believed to be millions of rands.

All accused were released on bail with strong bail conditions including that they may not be outside their homes between 22:00 and 05:00, they may not commit any other offences and they may not leave the district.

Lindelani and Hlalanathi Lofani were released on R6 000 each, while Mgqetse, Mzimasi Lofani and Nkawule were each granted bail of R3 000.

Magistrate Thilosnie Govender post-poned the case to 28 March for further investigation. "We are completely satisfied with the court's finding," said Clayton Samson of Jansen and Samson Attorneys who represents the accused.

"My clients are well known in the George area and have given their cooperation from the beginning. There was no reason for the court to refuse bail. As for the case, the state must complete its investigation so that justice can prevail."

The state was represented by prosecutor Mzo Matolengwe.

According to a spokesperson for the Hawks, Zinzi Hani, their arrests were the result of a multidisciplinary operation executed on Monday 31 January by the Hawks team from George and Gqeberha, the George K9 unit, Public Order Police Unit (Pops) Southern Cape, and teams from the Oudtshoorn and Motherwell Crime Intelligence.

"The arrests followed an extensive investi-gation by the team targeting a suspected organised crime group alleged to have been involved in securing cannabis from several cultivators based in the rural villages of the Eastern Cape. Once the required quantity of cannabis was secured it would be moved to the Southern Cape," Hani said.

Lindela Lofani