The Graaff Reinet Regional Court has sentenced Frank Barends (53), Mannetjie Neels Chaka (50) and Brandon Herriot Lamont (48) for up to two (2) years imprisonment or a fine of up to R150 000 for illegal possession, and/or controlling and /or transportation of abalone.
On Monday, 17 March 2025, the court accepted a plea agreement with the State, where the accused agreed that on Tuesday, 2 May 2023 at about 18:20, the accused were traveling on the R75 in two vehicles, a blue Toyota Camry and a gold Porsche with a trailer towards Jansenville.
Police pulled over the two vehicles, and upon searching them, they found a total of 9 398 units of abalone valued R 1 057 360 (one million, fifty-seven thousand, three hundred and sixty rands). The three accused were sentenced as follows:
1) Frank Barends was sentenced to pay R150 000 fine or 24 months imprisonment, of which R50 000 or 8 months imprisonment was suspended for five (5) years on condition that he is not convicted for a similar charge during the period of suspension. Barends was also sentenced to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of R 2 000 an a count of fraud.
2) Mannetjie Chaka was sentenced to pay R75 000 fine or 18 months imprisonment, of which R25 000 or 10 months imprisonment was suspended for five (5) years on condition that he is not convicted for a similar charge during the period of suspension.
3) Brandon Lamont was sentenced to pay R100 000 fine or 24 months imprisonment, of which R50 000 or 12 months imprisonment was suspended for five (5) years on condition that he is not convicted for a similar charge during the period of suspension.
All three accused were also declared unfit to possession a firearm and ammunition in terms of the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2000. The Porsche was also forfeited to the State.
In another case, Nathan Zealand (34) was released on R 5000,bail after he briefly appeared in the Graaff Reinet magistrate’s court on Tuesday, 11 March 2025 on charges of illegal possession, and/or controlling and /or transportation of abalone. A case was postponed to 9 May 2025 for further investigation.
It is alleged that on Monday, 10 March 2025 around 23:50, police arrested Zealand on route R75 towards Jansenville in possession of 12 380 units of abalone valued around R 4 204 436. 80. Zealand was traveling in a white Toyota Hilux. A vehicle was also confiscated for further investigation.
