By Montsho Matlala
Musina – Five SA National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers arrested for allegedly robbing cigarette smugglers at the Beit Bridge Port of Entry, linking South Africa and Zimbabwe, were granted bail by the Musina Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo on Thursday.
However, two suspected Zimbabwean smugglers were remanded in custody.
The soldiers – Macdonald Tshabadira (28), Wadon Peterson (29), Khuliso Tshivenga (42), Abel Khodani Maphukumela (29) and Mmaphuti Eva Modisa (39) – were each released on R5,000 bail.
Meanwhile, the two Zimbabwean nationals, Livhuwani Mutavhatsindi (27) and Perifous Chauke (27), remain in custody pending investigations into whether they entered South Africa legally.
All seven accused are expected to appear in court again on 14 November, said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzangi.
The charges include possession of illicit cigarettes, possession of ammunition and defeating the ends of justice.
The two Zimbabweans also face additional charges under the Immigration Act.
Malabi-Dzangi explained:
“The five soldiers reportedly intercepted a group of smugglers in possession of 24 boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes worth an estimated R300,000 and confiscated them on Tuesday. However, they declared only 18 boxes to SA Revenue Service Customs, while the remaining six boxes were later found hidden in their rooms at the base.”
According to Limpopo provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, the soldiers allegedly fired several shots at the suspected smugglers, forcing them to surrender the cigarettes.
They were arrested during a subsequent intelligence-driven operation carried out jointly with military intelligence officers, police confirmed.
