The Sandton couple arrested on Wednesday over allegations of drug manufacturing claim they don’t know how the drugs ended up in their home.
In affidavits read by their lawyer, advocate Christo Meiring, at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, Njabulo Mahlangu and his wife of eight months, Yvette Moekeetsi, said they knew nothing about the drugs that the police had allegedly uncovered in their Douglasdale home.
The house, where the drugs were allegedly found and where the couple live with their five-year-old daughter and three-month-old son, belongs to Mahlangu’s father.
The prosecutor, Katlego Hlabangane, told the court that 233 tablets believed to be mandrax had been found in a plastic bag in the storeroom, while others were found in the couple’s bathroom.
He said there had also been a strong smell of chemicals in the house, and yellow gloves and powder had been found there. Drugs worth R150 000 had been uncovered at the house, Hlabangane said.
In his affidavit, Mahlangu said he had been told that the police had seized chemicals from his house.
“I don’t know what those chemicals are or what they are used for, and I am confident that I will be found not guilty. I will lose my business if I am denied bail and my children are traumatised by my incarceration,” the affidavit said.
Moekeetsi also denied the allegations against her.
“I was told the police seized chemicals in my garage. I don’t know what they are or how they got there. I am confident that I will not be found guilty,” she said in her affidavit.
Moekeetsi also wanted to be released on bail to be able to take care of her infant son.
Magistrate Vince Pienaar granted Mahlangu R100 000 bail and his wife R50 000.
A few minutes after the couple’s appearance, Mahlangu’s brother, wife and domestic worker also appeared for a bail application for the same offence.
The application did not proceed because the three do not have fixed addresses. - The Star