A 34-year-old South African woman, who was arrested in Zimbabwe while allegedly attempting to smuggle six pieces of "diamonds" into South Africa, appeared at the Beitbridge magistrate’s court on Wednesday.

Rambanani Nee Lanthree of Durban appeared before Beitbridge magistrate Mr Tawengwa Sangster and the case was postponed to 13 February, pending the receipt of a statutory instrument from Harare, which makes the possession of the stones in question illegal.

Initially, the accused had paid $30 000 bail for contravening a section of the Precious Stones Act. As part of the bail conditions, she was ordered to reside at her relative’s given address in Beitbridge, until the matter was finalized.

However, it was later discovered that the stones were not genuine diamonds, prompting the State to alter the charges.

Lanthree cried while standing in the dock as she continuously pleaded with the court to bring the trial date closer, saying she had a job to protect and a family to look after back home in Durban.

The court was told that, on 5 January, Lanthree was intercepted by police at a roadblock along the Beitbridge-Masvingo road. She was on board a South Africa-bound bus. A search was conducted, leading to the recovery of the stones hidden inside her bag. The value of the stones is not yet known. She was subsequently arrested.

Of late, there has been an increase in the number of smuggling cases involving diamonds, following the recent discovery of a diamond field in the eastern part of Zimbabwe. Police and soldiers have since cordoned off the area, following massive looting by locals and foreigners.