The Western Cape High Court has issued a preservation order on R57,000 in cash seized during a 2022 drug bust on the N7 near Citrusdal, the Hawks confirmed on Tuesday.

Hawks provincial spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said the order — granted by the Western Cape Division of the High Court on 17 November and received by the Hawks on 24 November — was issued to the Hawks’ Asset Forfeiture Investigation team in conjunction with the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU).

“It is reported that on 9 July 2022, the accused was apprehended on the N7 near Citrusdal by members of the South African Police Service,” Vukubi said.

“The police stopped a suspicious vehicle and, upon searching, they seized a dependence-producing substance commonly referred to as Khat. It was eighteen bunches with a street value of approximately R100,000. Police further discovered R57,000 in cash.”

He said the case was subsequently referred to the Hawks’ Asset Forfeiture Investigation for further probing, which led to the preservation order being obtained.

In August, IOL reported that the High Court in Limpopo granted a forfeiture order for a cash amount of R446,000 and a Toyota Fortuner sport utility vehicle, which were seized by police. 

The Hawks’ asset forfeiture investigation unit and the National Prosecuting Authority’s asset forfeiture unit (AFU) worked tirelessly to ensure the forfeiture of the money and the vehicle.

“This emanates from the arrest conducted by members of the South African Police Service attached to Musina in 2024. On 4 July 2024, police conducted a stop and search operation along the N1 road in Musina,” Warrant Officer Lethunya Mmuroa, provincial spokesperson for the Hawks in Limpopo said at the time.

During the operation, the police officers stopped the Toyota Fortuner, which was driven by a foreign national.

“During a search, police found a plastic bag that contained South African banknotes underneath blankets inside the boot. Police interviewed the driver, and he failed to give a clear explanation for carrying the large amount of money inside the vehicle,” said Mmuroa.

The driver was immediately arrested, and the money was seized.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

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