NIGERIAN citizen Iyke Nzekwe (30) was convicted in the Richards Bay District Court for possession of dangerous and dependence producing substances on Tuesday.
He was sentenced to R6 000 or three years imprisonment and declared unfit to possess a firearm.
The drugs which were seized at the time of his arrest, were declared forfeited to the State and the court ordered that the accused should be brought to the attention of the Director General of the Department of Home Affairs for the withdrawal of his residency permit.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated matter, convicted thief Donovon French (28), blamed his crime on long-term drug abuse and the need for quick cash to sustain his habit.
French, who has two previous convictions, told his probation officer that his friends, without his knowledge, mixed whoonga into the dagga he was smoking.
He said he was angry when he found out, but became hooked virtually immediately.
Whoonga typically contains small amounts of heroin, bulked up with dagga, rat poison and cleaning detergents and is highly addictive.
An investigation into his personal circumstances revealed that he grew up and was nurtured with good values in a close-knit family, but his family said he chose his friends over them and continued to mix with the wrong crowd.
According to the probation officer’s report, he was finally disowned by his family because of all the pain he caused and they were no longer willing to assist him.
His sentence was further suspended.
And in another matter, 31 year-old Maritza (surname withheld to protect the identity of the victim) has been charged with child abuse or alternatively child abandonment by parent, following the birth of her baby who later found alive at the Richards Bay taxi rank.
She previously appeared on charges of malicious damage to property. At the time, she was referred for psychiatric observation and evaluation.
The report indicated long-term drug abuse.
Her case has been remanded until 20 April and she is on bail.
Also on the District Court roll for possession of dangerous and dependence producing substances in separate matters were Samuel Nanso Agbala (34), Kay Mkoto (36) Khetane Shangase (26), Arinza Emmanuel Obianuka (28), Benjamin Ferrera (28), Muzi Buthelezi (28), Bhekitemba Xaba (23) and Muzi Buthelezi (28).
