🇿🇦South AfricaSouthern Africa
Two suspects granted bail in OR Tambo drug bust
via The Citizen1 min read
Vuyokazi Toko, 43, and Elisa Shikwambana, 45, two of the five women arrested in a multimillion-rand drug bust at OR Tambo International Airport, have been granted R15,000 bail each. They appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday and are required to report to their nearest police stations at designated intervals as part of their bail conditions. The five women were arrested on March 28, 2026, by the South African Police Service in collaboration with Airports Company South Africa. They were intercepted before boarding an international flight to China via Dubai, allegedly concealing drugs with an estimated street value exceeding R5 million on their bodies, including in their sneakers, underwear, and private parts. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole stated that each accused faces one count of dealing in drugs. The matter has been postponed to August 4, 2026, for further investigations. Bail applications for the remaining accused are scheduled for April 14 and 15, 2026. The NPA reiterated its commitment to combating organized crime, especially at South Africa’s ports of entry. This incident follows other drug seizures at OR Tambo, including R2.8 million worth of drugs in March 2026, and R2.2 million worth of crystal meth discovered in a cargo warehouse on March 4, 2026.
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Must ReadThe Constitutional Court ruled on May 8, 2026, that Parliament acted irrationally in December 2022 by rejecting the referral of a Section 89 panel report to an impeachment committee. This decision mandates the National Assembly to establish an impeachment committee, as outlined in Rule 129I, to investigate President Cyril Ramaphosa. The inquiry will focus on three potential grounds for removal: serious violation of the constitution or law, serious misconduct, or inability to perform duties. Key aspects of the investigation will likely include the origin of $580,000 stolen from Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm in February 2020, which he stated was payment for buffaloes to Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa. Questions persist regarding the cash transaction, the non-delivery of the buffaloes, and why the money was not returned. The inquiry will also examine allegations of a cover-up, including the failure to report the burglary to the South African Police Service and the alleged involvement of Wally Rhoode, head of the Presidential Protection Service, in a cover-up and unlawful cross-border activities. The storage of the cash for 44 days without declaration to the South African Reserve Bank, violating Exchange Control Regulations, will also be scrutinized. Following the committee's report, the National Assembly will vote on removal, requiring a two-thirds majority of 267 votes. The current Government of National Unity, comprising the ANC and its partners, holds 287 seats, indic
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