Illicit smokes put actor in the dock

Paul Sewetsi, TV and radio drama actor, and four other people appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

They were granted bail after they were arrested for allegedly selling illicit cigarettes this week.

Sewetsi, Charles Kgomo, Jackson Ika, Portia Ndou and Brown Makumbe were arrested in an early morning operation by the Hawks on Wednesday after a tip-off from members of the public.

The actor, 44, Kgomo, 43, and Ika, 41, were each granted R1 000 bail.

Nodu, 32, and Makumbe, 40, were remanded in custody as another charge of contravening the Immigration Act was added. They will appear again next Friday for a formal bail application.

The accused will then all appear in court again on 5 October.

Each accused appeared separately before magistrate Janine Ungra.

The state first suggested to Ungra that bail for Sewetsi, who portrays a pastor on Skeem Saam, be set at R3 000.

But Ungra questioned why the state wanted Sewetsi’s bail set higher when his co-accused were granted bail of R1 000 each.

She also wanted to know how many cigarettes were in his possession.

The court was told that Sewetsi was found in possession of 10 packets of Remington Gold cigarettes, worth R267.

In total, the Hawks seized 45 cartons, worth R12 000.

A cash amount of R9 681 was also confiscated.

Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Matimba Maluleke said outside court that officers would continue with operations. – News24 Wire