A warrant of arrest was issued for a 53-year-old woman who allegedly failed to make it to court supposedly due to the heavy rains. Hundreds of other residents who frequent Siteki from Maphungwane area have been affected by the torrential rains which has damaged the already poor road leading to Mambane and other areas. Kombis which use the road are only reaching as far as Bham Bham Mountain, as the steep road is too slippery for the usually overloaded kombis and buses. Hlaleleni Myeni, who is out on bail, could not show up in court yesterday prompting Lubombo Senior magistrate, Donald Mavuso to issue what he termed a “stayed warrant of arrest”. Mavuso said the “stayed warrant” means she has been given a week to at least come up with an explanation as to why she should not be arrested. This was after the prosecutor noted that she may have failed to show up as she lives at Mambane where roads have become inaccessible due to heavy rain.

The magistrate also expressed shock that although Myeni was granted bail, there was no proof that she had paid it yet she was outside custody. After realising that there was no receipt to show proof of payment, Mavuso assumed that the suspect would naturally be in custody but she was not. He issued an order that court officials should ensure that if a suspect was granted bail they should present a copy of the receipt as proof. “In this case, it does not show whether this person paid bail or not,” said Mavuso. Hlaleleni was arrested after being found with 23.51kg of dagga.

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