The former Springbok weightlifter who is accused of cultivating dagga, was released on R7 000 bail yesterday (16 September).
The accused’s wife took the stand and was sworn in. She said divorce proceedings are currently under way, and she and her two children have therefore moved in with a family friend. She is unemployed at the moment.
According to the wife the accused is a good father and she would not have a problem should he wish to have contact with the children. She said she took full responsibility for the children and reiterated that they were not on drugs of any kind. When the court asked her how her child was coping after her husband’s arrest, she said her daughter was doing well.
Presiding Regional Magistrate Delize Smith said the court’s main concern is the fact that the accused called his underage daughter and asked her to destroy the evidence. She said the girl could face charges because of her actions. The court is concerned that should the accused have any contact with the children, he would influence them not to testify against their father.
At that stage one of the accused’s supporters made a comment and the court asked him to leave. Smith continued by saying that the child was put in a position by the accused that was not in her best interest. The court said the child knew exactly what plants to destroy after she was instructed to do so. The wife then said she would ensure that there is no contact between the children and the accused.
The accused’s lawyer, Mr Chabalala requested the court to set bail at R4 000 due to the fact that the accused has been incarcerated and he could not generate an income. He said that bail should not be a means of punishment.
According to the state the dagga that was confiscated weighed more than 150 grams and had a street value of about R50 000. The state requested that the bail to be set at R15 000.
Bail was set at R7 000 with the strict condition that there would be no direct or indirect contact with the children whatsoever as long as the case is pending. Should he violate that condition, his bail would be forfeited, a warrant of arrest would be issued in his name, his phone would be confiscated and the wife would lose custody of the children as they would be placed in a place of safety.
Other conditions were that he should appear in court when requested and that the children’s school be informed of these conditions.
The accused’s supporters, armed with posters pleading for bail, said they were happy with the outcome and glad that he was released on bail. “He can now get his things in order,” said Waldo Botha.
The accused was arrested on 1 August after police had received a tip-off that he was cultivating a large number of dagga plants at his house. Just before the police pounced, he instructed his 15-year-old daughter to destroy the evidence, but she was caught in the act. During the arrest, he tried to flush some of the dagga down the toilet, but was caught out when the police found the dagga floating in the toilet bowl. His bail applications have been marred by a myriad of misunderstandings.
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