'This is not Jamaica'

2008-02-20 16:26

Walter Ka Nkosi

Nelspruit - A Tanzanian man caught smoking dagga "like he was in Jamaica" was fined R3 000 on Wednesday.

Abdul Mohammed, 23, who says he practises Rastafarianism, whose followers are known to smoke dagga as part of their religious beliefs, was caught with six matchboxes of dagga.

He was caught on January 7 when people phoned the police to complain that he was smoking dagga in public.

The court heard that in December, Mohammed also paid an admission of guilt fines for the same offence.

State prosecutor Brian Mogale said Mohammed's habit of smoking in public set a negative example to the youth.

"Your Worship, he needs to be reminded that this is South Africa and not Jamaica...where you can smoke dagga freely without the police chasing after you," he said.

Looking straight at Mohammed, he said: "This is Africa du Sud, my friend."

Magistrate Annemaria van der Merwe agreed.

"Sir, always remember where you are. No one is permitted to smoke dagga in public like you do," she said.

She sentenced him to a fine of R3 000 or a six-month jail sentence.

He opted to pay the fine. He paid R1 300 immediately and was told to pay another R300 by March 7.

The remaining R1 500 was suspended for five years, but if he's caught smoking in that time, he'll have to pay up.

Mohammed had pleaded guilty to the possession of dagga when he appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court.

He said he was a "devoted Rastafarian" and started smoking dagga when he became a Rasta while still living in Tanzania.

He said he was married and his wife and three-year-old daughter were still in Tanzania.

He rents a flat in Nelspruit and works as a clothing designer.

- African Eye