The owner of the house at Themba Primary School, where dagga valued at about E1 million was discovered, has come out unscathed.
Although the illegal herb was found in his quarters, the teacher was away on Thursday when police uncovered 18 bags of dagga.
Police confirmed that the teacher was not charged since he was absent during the raid. Instead, his wife, a female relative and a male friend were found in the house.
The trio was arrested and later appeared at the Hluti Magistrate’s Court sitting in Nhlangano for contravening the Pharmacy Act.
During trial, both women pleaded innocence while the male suspect admitted ownership of the dagga parcels. He was identified as Khayelihle Hlatshwayo of Magele.
Testimony revealed that Hlatshwayo arrived at the teacher’s quarters around 4pm on Thursday, asking to leave a few parcels temporarily, promising to collect them later.
The teacher’s wife, who described him as a high school friend, said her husband was away in Nhlangano at the time. She agreed to his request and he began moving in the bags.
Moments later, police from Hluti Police Station arrived unexpectedly and conducted the search. Magistrate Jabulani Maphalala reserved judgment.
All three suspects remain in custody until the verdict is delivered.
Police later announced the arrests, confirming that 18 bags of dagga weighing 155.5kg were confiscated from the teacher’s quarters.
READ MORE | Shock as E1m dagga found in school
The intercepted herb has an estimated street value of E1 million.
Senior teacher Primrose Mngometulu, holding fort at the school, confirmed the incident.
“I spoke to the teacher who was allocated the house. He told me he was away when the dagga was found, and when I met him on Friday morning, he was on his way to the police station to find out what happened,” she said.
Mngometulu expressed concern over rampant crime in the area, blaming the situation on the school’s proximity to the borderline fence.
“There is a lot of criminal activity here. Teachers’ valuables get stolen and unscrupulous individuals take advantage of our closeness to the border, hiding their stuff to cool off before smuggling it into South Africa,” she explained.
A police officer also confirmed that criminals increasingly use schools as hiding places for contraband, including dagga.
