ESWATINI NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND CORRUPTION

30 MAY 2025

ESWATINI NATIONAL SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING AND CORRUPTION

Upington, Northern Cape – The Upington Regional Court has convicted and sentenced Samson Dlamini (42), a national of the Kingdom of Eswatini, to 20 years of direct imprisonment for dealing in drugs and corruption in terms of Section 4 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), Act 12 of 2004.
Dlamini received 15 years for drug trafficking and 5 years for corruption. The court ordered the sentences to run consecutively, resulting in an effective 20-year prison term.

The charges stem from an incident on 28 April 2023, when Dlamini travelled from Johannesburg to Windhoek, Namibia, in a truck he had hitched a ride in. During a routine inspection at the Nakop Border Post, Sergeant Jacob Madoda of the South African Police Service (SAPS) searched Dlamini and his belongings. His suspicions were aroused by signs of tampering on several food items in Dlamini’s possession.
Upon closer examination, a brownish substance was discovered concealed within a loaf of bread and three sealed packets of Lays potato chips. When confronted, Dlamini attempted to bribe Sergeant Madoda with R2,000, discreetly placing the money in the officer’s pocket. Sergeant Madoda immediately placed him under arrest.

The seized substance was sent to the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in the Western Cape. Colonel Smith, head of the Plattekloof Laboratory, testified that the substance was Methcathinone, a highly addictive, amphetamine-type stimulant commonly known as “CAT”. He confirmed that the consignment was not only the largest but also the purest form of Methcathinone tested by the laboratory across the Western, Eastern, and Northern Cape provinces since 2008. In its diluted form, the drug carries a street value of R350 to R400 per gram.

The State, led by Prosecutor Moire-Jane Mannetti, rejected Dlamini’s offer to plead guilty only to drug possession and have the corruption charge withdrawn. Confident in its case, the prosecution pushed forward and secured convictions on both counts. Mannetti's meticulous handling of the case demonstrated unwavering professionalism and commitment to justice.
This case highlights the NPA’s zero-tolerance stance on transnational drug trafficking and corruption, particularly at our border posts. The NPA commends Sergeant Madoda for his integrity and courage in resisting bribery and ensuring that justice was served.

The National Prosecuting Authority remains unwavering in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and aggressively dismantling organised crime networks. Drug trafficking and corruption are not just criminal offences they are corrosive forces that undermine public safety, economic stability, and trust in our justice system. This landmark sentence sends an unequivocal message: South Africa’s borders will not serve as gateways for international drug syndicates, and any attempt to corrupt law enforcement will be crushed with the full weight of the law.

Issued by:

Mojalefa Senokoatsane
NPA Regional Spokesperson
Northern Cape Division
MSenokoatsane@npa.gov.za
073 423 3539