Police in Standerton arrested two suspects, aged 32 and 26, for dealing in dagga after a motor vehicle accident on the R39 road at the Grootdraai Dam T-Junction near Standerton on Wednesday, 03 June 2026. Members attached to Standerton Visible Policing responded to a reported accident involving a silver Toyota Yaris and a white VW Polo. Upon arrival at the scene, Police found the Toyota Yaris stationary on the roadway with extensive damage to the driver's side.
The driver was unresponsive and was transported to a local medical facility by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for treatment. Police then approached the VW Polo, which had come to a standstill in a nearby field. The driver informed members that he had been travelling with a passenger. During a subsequent inspection of the vehicle, Police discovered several black plastic bags containing dagga. The driver and passenger were immediately arrested for dealing in drugs. A total of 97 kilograms of dagga, with an estimated street value of about R582 000 was seized.
The white VW Polo, bearing Northern Cape registration number plates, was also confiscated as part of the investigation. Neither of the suspects sustained injuries during the accident. The suspects have been charged with dealing in drugs, while the driver faces an additional charge of reckless and negligent driving. They are expected to appear at the Standerton Magistrate's Court soon.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the members for their vigilance and dedication. "The recovery of a substantial quantity of dagga and the arrest of the two suspects demonstrate our members' commitment to disrupting the illegal drug trade in our province. Drug trafficking remains a serious threat to our communities, and we will continue to intensify operations aimed at identifying and apprehending those involved in such criminal activities. I commend the members for their alertness and professionalism in turning what initially appeared to be a mere road accident into a significant drug seizure, " said the General.
