'The dagga is mine,' says accused

NDINGILILO GAOSWEDIWEand KEEME MANGINA
Correspondents | Friday August 21, 2009 00:00

Gokgonamang Masisi, alongside two unemployed illegal immigrants from Zimbabwe, Eunice Ndlovu (32) and Ndodana Ndlovu (25), are charged with possession of a green substance suspected to be dagga.

Masisi stunned the court further when he said Eunice was his wife but he had never informed her about the dagga. On hearing this, the wide-mouthed audience inspected the two, registered their contrast in appearance, and burst into laughter.

Masisi cut an elegant figure in his grey suit while his 'wife' was bedraggled in fading cream-white track suit trousers, a black-and-white striped top and pass boots.

Overwhelmed, Chief Magistrate Gabanagae Mokwadi could not help asking Masisi to repeat what he had just said. Whereupon Masisi obliged, his voice an octave higher: 'This is my wife, and she knows nothing about the dagga.'

Prior to the proceedings, police officers had disdained to hold Eunice's baby, forcing her to remain outside the courtroom until she was called to the dock.

'Ijoo! Ke mang yo o ka tshwarang ngwana yo o ntseng jaana? (Just who can hold such a baby?),' one policewoman had said, referring to the rather untidy baby.

As though the earlier jaw-dropping confession was not enough, Masisi proceeded to exonerate co-accused Ndodana of any blame: Ndodana simply happened to be at his house looking for a piece job when he was 'unfortunately' arrested, he asserted.

In the end, public prosecutor David Pitlagano successfully asked the court to remand the two Zimbabweans, who had no valid travel documents, while Masisi was granted bail.

In the meantime, the centrepiece of the case - 'a green substance suspected to be dagga' - has been sent to the police forensic laboratory for analysis.

The three were arrested on Monday in Tonota.