Olga Gretu, 33, appeared before Magistrate Nadia Banwari, who informed her that the charge was withdrawn, and that she was free to step out of the dock.

She has appeared in court 11 times since her arrest in November last year.

Gretu was charged in terms of the Immigration Act, and the charge sheet alleged that she was unlawfully still in the country on November 3 last year, after her application for the renewal of her temporary residence permit had been rejected in May.

A similar charge against 12 other strippers was withdrawn earlier this year, but no explanation was given for the decision by the Western Cape Directorate for Public Prosecutions (DPP) to proceed against Gretu.

According to the court record, written representations by defence counsel Peter Mihalik to the DPP, for the withdrawal of the charge, were rejected, with a directive that the trial commence in April.

This did not materialise, and Gretu then made seven further court appearances, before the charge was finally withdrawn.

Gretu had been employed by the Mavericks Revue Bar in Cape Town.