All seven accused in Durban R50m drug bust granted bail

Seven people accused of manufacturing and dealing in heroin and mandrax following a R50m drug bust in Durban in March were granted bail on Tuesday.

Zainudeen Abrahams, 52, Millicent Skippers, 33, Natasha September, 32, Joseph Groenewald, 39, Jamie May, 33, Stephanie Hamke, 25, and Randall Jacobs, 36, appeared in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Tuesday for a formal bail application.

Senior state advocate Mahen Naidu submitted that the accused should be denied bail based on the premise that they might intimidate witnesses, interfere or destroy evidence or evade trial as they are originally from Cape Town.

However, magistrate Vanitha Armu granted bail, citing that the state failed to bring forward any compelling evidence that the applicants were flight risks or that they would tamper with evidence.

She ruled that Abrahams be ordered to pay bail of R15,000, while Skippers, September, Groenewald, May, Heyneke, Jacobs, 36, be ordered to pay R5,000 each.

Armu noted that while bail has been granted, the accused are still facing serious charges.

As part of their stringent bail conditions they have been ordered to report to their nearest police stations every Monday between 6am and 6pm until their next court date.

Abrahams, Heyneke and September are to report to the Delft police station, Skippers and May to the Mitchells Plain police station, and Groenewald and Jacobs to the Athlone police station in Cape Town.

The case was postponed to July 2 for outstanding evidence to be obtained.