By OBAKENG MAJE
29 April 2026 – The Northern Cape High Court sitting in Kimberley granted the Hawks Priority Crime Specialized Investigation (PCSI) and National Prosecuting Authority’ Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) forfeiture order amounting to R156 921. The Hawks said forfeiture came on after an incident that happened on 11 October 2025.
The Hawks spokesperson in North West, Lieutenant Colonel Tebogo Thebe said Kimberley Public Order Police (POP) received information of suspicious activities taking place in Galeshewe Township, in Kimberley. Thebe said upon their arrival after assessing the scene they summoned the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s Serious Organised Crime Investigations standby team.
“The team discovered a large consignment of medicine (tablets and bottled mixtures) as well as cash amounting to just below R160 000. The seized consignment included 114 bottles of Painagon syrup, 100 bottles of Stilpaine syrup, 100 bottles of Bronclear syrup, 30 bottles of lenazineforte syrup, 431 of mylon tablets.
“Each bottle was being sold for R60 reportedly. The team felt a very strong smell of high-grade dagga coming from another room in the same yard prompting a search, wherein a large quantity of dagga in black plastic bags estimated to be worth at least R90 000 was discovered and seized for further investigation,” he said.
Thebe further said the police arrested a couple of Zimbabwean nationals, Takundn Matuxuro (53) and Lydia Mapepeta (44). He added that it is alleged that the two operated an illegal pharmacy and dispensed medicine without any qualifications in contravention of Sections of Medicine control Act.
“Investigation on the criminal matter continues. Kimberley Hawks Asset Forfeiture Investigation conducted a detailed asset investigation on both accused and it was established that they are unemployed and don’t have an active bank account in the country,” said Thebe.
Meanwhile, the acting Provincial Head of the Northern Cape, Brigadier De Witt Botha extended his appreciation to both investigating members and prosecution team for their outstanding work in securing forfeiture orders. Botha said anything earned from criminal activities will be forfeited to the state.
“We will make sure of that,” he concluded.
The Guardian 