Zimbabwean truck driver sentenced for R10m cigarette smuggling

Godknows Mangani Demanyundo, a 54-year-old Zimbabwean truck driver, has been sentenced by the Giyani Magistrates’ Court to a R10 million fine or five years in prison. The sentence follows his conviction for transporting illicit Chelsea cigarettes valued at more than R10.4 million through the Musina–Beitbridge Port of Entry.

The smuggling attempt was detected in June 2025 when a South African Revenue Service (SARS) cargo analyst identified suspicious images during routine scanning of a tanker. A joint inspection by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Border Management Authority (BMA) uncovered 500 master boxes and various other cigarette packs concealed within the vehicle.

In addition to the fine or imprisonment, the court ordered the forfeiture of the illicit cigarettes, the truck, and the tanker trailer to the State. Demanyundo has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm. The investigation was conducted by the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation unit with cooperation from multiple border and police agencies.