66-year-old woman escapes jail for dagga charges
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Wednesday August 6, 2025 16:50
According to court documents, Jethro was found in possession of dagga weighing 0.0074 grams on January 26, 2024, in Mbulawa ward, Natale village.
The document further reads that the police had searched the accused son's room and found nothing, but when they proceeded to Jethro's room, they discovered dagga seedlings in a sachet. Furthermore, at the time, Jethro explained that she boiled the seedlings and drank the water, using a clover yogurt container for medicinal purposes to help with her asthma.
After pleading guilty to dagga charges, Jethro was convicted on her plea by Principal Magistrate Tshepo Magetse.
During mitigation, Jethro pleaded for the court to have mercy on her and promised not to commit the offense or any other offense again, and requested a fine instead of imprisonment.
She also stated that she was asthmatic and used dagga for medical purposes. Additionally, she indicated that she started using it after someone recommended it and informed her that boiling the illegal substance and drinking the water could help improve her medical condition.
“I pray for a fine rather than being sent to prison,” she said.
In his ruling, Magetse took into account the negligible weight of the dagga and Jethro's advanced age and ruled that there were exceptional extenuating circumstances warranting deviation from the usual sentence.
'A reprimand is the appropriate and proportionate sentence in the circumstances,' he said.
Magetse reprimanded and warned Jethro never to be linked to such offenses again.
He also ordered her to attend a counselling session at a health and mental health institution within seven days to address her asthma and any underlying issues.