Two Home Affairs officials from Makhado (Louis Trichardt) were sentenced to pay a fine of 600 million Zimbabwean dollars (R10 000) each or spend one year in jail for their involvement in a smuggling effort. An additional sentence of ten months’ imprisonment was suspended for five years.

Jacob Martin Venter (34) and Ndwamato Lukoto (49), both employed at Home Affairs in Makhado, and a Zimbabwean, Takawora Mahachi (29), were sentenced last Friday in the High Court by Justice Ndou, for attempting to smuggle 100 pieces of ivory ornaments and 410 boxes of Zimbabwean cigarettes, worth R30 000. The Zimbabwean High Court also ordered the forfeiture of the goods.

The trio was initially sentenced on May 24 to a compulsory eight months in jail by Beit Bridge magistrate, Mercy Rukoni-Siti. Justice Ndou substituted the magistrate’s sentence in a High Court ruling last Friday.

Their legal representative, Adv Sampson Mulaudzi, initially applied for bail, pending an appeal against the first sentence, as he felt they did not deserve a custodial sentence. The appeal was subsequently opposed, but Adv Mulaudzi confirmed that Venter and Lukoto have since been released after paying their fine.

Mahachi is, however, still in prison, as he had not yet raised the required amount.

The court found that Venter and Lukoto came to Beit Bridge Town in Zimbabwe on May 18 at about 18:00 driving a Home Affairs truck returning illegal immigrants from Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

After off-loading the deportees at the Beit Bridge police station in Zimbabwe, the two met Malachi and planned to smuggle the cigarettes and ivory ornaments, using the Home Affairs truck. Venter and Lukoto were to get R1 800 as a kickback.

They loaded the cigarettes and ivory and covered it with blankets, after which they drove to the Beit Bridge border post on their way back to South Africa. However, acting on a tip-off, the Zimbabwean police intercepted the truck at the exit gate.

A search was conducted, leading to the discovery of the contraband hidden in the back of the vehicle. The men were then arrested.