No longer a visitor but an inmate: Parolee arrested for bringing dagga to friend in prison
A 31-year-old parolee was arrested at Standerton Correctional Centre after allegedly attempting to smuggle dagga and a cellphone into the prison during a visit.
The arrest took place on Sunday, 18 January 2026, when the man visited a friend who is incarcerated at the facility.
According to police, the suspect brought food items for the inmate, but during an inspection by correctional officials, a plastic bag containing dagga and a cellphone was found concealed inside a packet of instant porridge.
Police said the suspect was immediately arrested and charged with possession of drugs and defeating the ends of justice.
“The suspect has since joined his friend in custody, no longer as a visitor, but instead as an inmate,” said Mpumalanga SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane.
The suspect is expected to appear before the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 January 2026.
The acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrest and warned against attempts to undermine law enforcement
“Mkhwanazi cautioned individuals to refrain from smuggling illegal items into correctional facilities, warning that those who do so will face the full might of the law for their ill-informed choices,” Ndubane said.
The arrest forms part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb the flow of contraband into correctional centres across the province.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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