Mike Banda, 45, Nkosinathi Cele, 39, Abongile Sonela, 37, and Mthandazo Skhosana, 35, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday morning for allegedly operating an abalone processing facility in Table View.
Image: Supplied / Hawks
Four suspects aged between 35 and 45 appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday in connection with operating an abalone drying facility in Table View.
The four accused, Mike Banda, 45, Nkosinathi Cele, 39, Abongile Sonela, 37, and Mthandazo Skhosana, 35, made their brief court appearance on Thursday morning.
The matter was postponed to March 19 for bail information. All accused are remanded in custody until their next court appearance.
Hawks spokesperson Siyabulela Vukubi confirmed the suspects were arrested on March 10 by the Hawks' Economic Protected Resources (EPR) in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), and Table View SAPS.
“The Hawks acted on information regarding the abalone drying facility in Table View. On arrival at the premises, approximately 11.30am, they encountered the four suspects processing the abalone. Upon counting, 3,699 units were seized to the value of R1.2 million,” said Vukubi.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated arrest, SAPS spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that a Tanzanian man is also expected to make a court appearance at the Klawer Magistrate’s Court after he was found in possession of 2,045 mandrax tablets.
“An illegal immigrant travelling with 2,045 mandrax tablets was intercepted at Klawer Weigh Bridge on the N7 by members of the West Coast District Flying Squad. The members were part of a vehicle checkpoint operation, working with Provincial Traffic officers on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at around 23.30pm.
“As per routine, they stopped a taxi that was travelling from the direction of Cape Town and searched it. The suspect had a bag in front of him, and as the police were searching, he took out a grey jacket from the bag and tried to hide a plastic bag. At that moment, members grabbed the bag and searched it. They found the mandrax tablets with an estimated street value of R102,250. He was arrested for dealing in drugs and contravention of the Immigration Act,” said Gwala.