BELLVILLE
Woensdag, 24 Februarie 2021 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za
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Kinders kyk hoe ’n veldbrand langs Fairtreesweg tussen Vredekloof en Eversdal Vrydag laatmiddag geblus word. Brandweermanne van Durbanville, Bellville en Goodwood het die brand geblus. FOTO: NATALI VARNEY
MANDRAX TRAFFICKING: SUSPECTS OUT ON BAIL
Six busted for drugs NIELEN DE KLERK @nielendk
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ix people, including a prominent suspected gang leader, appeared in court last week in a huge drug trafficking bust, which happened mostly in parts of Bellville and Durbanville. Jerome “Donkie” Booysen (55), Kenneth Hansen (53), Kristo Mariens (26), Clinton Langeveld, Jennen Jesmene Jansen (39) and Herbert Zoutman (52) appeared in the Bellville magistrate’s court last Thursday after handing themselves over. Five of the accused reside in either Glenhaven or in Bellville South. Zoutman stays in Belhar.
According to Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale they are believed to be “the primary dealers in and distributors of illegal drugs in the province”. The State claims the accused, with Booysen in the lead, dealt in drugs (Methaqualone/Mandrax) from February 2013 to November 2017. These dealings took place at houses across the northern suburbs, mostly in Bellville (including Glenhaven, De La Haye, Labiance and Stikland), Brackenfell, Kuils River and Durbanville. They stand accused on charges of the contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca), as well as numerous charges of “dealing in undesireable dependence
producing substances”. The State names Booysen and Hansen as the main accused and say Booysen played a managing role in the operations. “The suspects were arrested after handing themselves over following an intelligencedriven operation by the Western Cape serious organised crime investigation unit of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation on suspicion of drug and drug trafficking activities,” Mogale said. The six were granted bail of between R5 000 and R30 000. Booysen was released on R30 000 bail. The National Prosecution Authority’s spokesperson, Eric Ntabazalila, says the State argued for R40 000, “but the presiding
officer set it at R30 000.” Hansen was released on R20 000 and Kristo Mariens, Clinton Langeveld, Jennen Jansen and Herbert Zoutman were all released on R5 000 bail. “The reason behind the different bail amounts is that the first two accused were managers and participants in the criminal enterprise. The rest of the accused were participants.” The case was postponed to 29 April for further investigation. Booysen was also arrested in December last year along with businessman Mark Lifman and others in connection with the murder of Brian Wainstein, a suspected steroid smuggler.