Second man arrested for trying to 'smuggle' R1.7m cash into Botswana

Police have arrested a second man for allegedly attempting to smuggle R1.7m cash from SA to Botswana.

The man, identified as Bruce Gifford Smith, was taken into custody after visiting 24-year-old Nicolas Fouche on Friday. Fouche had been arrested two days earlier, on August 7, at the Stockpoort border post after officials caught him allegedly trying to move the cash out of the country.

Pictures provided by Limpopo SAPS show stacks of money, all R100 notes bound in rubber bands, being removed from the man's luggage and piled up at what appears to be a police station or customs office.

Smith appeared before the Lephalale Magistrate's Court on Monday. The 52-year-old was charged with contravening the Exchange Control Regulations and the Customs and Excise Act.

Hawks spokesperson Capt Matimba Maluleke said Smith was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody until Thursday for a formal bail application.

Fouche is also expected to appear on Thursday for a bail application.

"The Hawks' investigation into the matter linked the second suspect [Smith], who had paid Fouche a visit at the holding cells," said Maluleke.

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect details of Smith's arrest and court appearance. An earlier version had not named him as he had not yet appeared in court.