POLOKWANE: A 56-year-old Zimbabwean national was sentenced to thirteen (13) years of direct imprisonment by the Polokwane Commercial Crimes court for the Contravention of Immigration Act and possession of illicit cigarettes on Wednesday ( 20 May 2026).
The Court heard that the Provincial Tracking Team members received information regarding a white Ford Ranger bakkie transporting illicit cigarettes from Musina to Gauteng Province on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, at about 20:30.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, the operational team intercepted the identified vehicle along the R516 road in the Tuinplaas policing area. Upon stopping and searching the vehicle, police discovered 36 master boxes of Remington Gold cigarettes concealed inside the vehicle.
Toni Nathaniel Gumbo, who was driving a white Ford Ranger bakkie, was immediately apprehended at the scene for possession of illicit cigarettes with an estimated street value of three hundred and sixty thousand of rands (R360.000)
The sentences were handed down on the following counts:
1. Count one (1) – Possession of illicit cigarettes – (05) years direct imprisonment
2. Count two (2) – Contravention of Immigration Act – 08 years direct imprisonment.
In addition, the sentences on counts 1 and 2 will not run concurrently.
Gumbo will serve thirteen (13) years of direct imprisonment, and the motor vehicle utilized in the commission of the crime was also forfeited to the state.