AN Alicedale man allegedly caught in the act of burning a pile of dagga packages on Tuesday has appeared in the Grahamstown Magistrate’s Court.
Rudolph van Rooyen, 49, appeared briefly in court yesterday and the case has been postponed to June 21 for a formal bail application. Van Rooyen remains in custody.
Alicedale police acted on a tip-off they received. Alicedale station commander Captain Simpiwe Magula and his operational team went to an address at Slessor Street, Alicedale, and allegedly found Van Rooyen standing in front of the gate inside the yard.
The gate was locked and the SAPS team introduced themselves to Van Rooyen and asked him to open the gate. He went into the house and fetched keys and opened the gate.
“As the team got into the yard, the acrid smell of dagga greeted them,” police spokeswoman Captain Mali Govender said.
“During a search of the property, they discovered a heap of dagga that was being burnt.”
Dagga worth over R200 000, some loose, others packed in bags was seized. Van Rooyen was arrested and faces a charge of possession of dagga.
“The SAPS welcome and respond to information on crime and criminal activity on a daily basis,” Govender said.
