Police clear R2.9 million dagga plantation on Mpumalanga river bank
Acting on a tip-off, a large team led by Mpumalanga's acting police commissioner removed a dense field of mature dagga plants on Buffelspruit Farm near Malelane, valued at about R2.9 million. No arrests were made; police opened an investigation to find the cultivators.
🇿🇦 Buffelspruit Farm near Schoemansdal, outside Malelane, Mpumalanga · South Africa
- Value (official estimate)
- ZAR 2,900,000
Acting on a tip-off, a large police team uncovered a dense field of mature dagga plants in a secluded part of Buffelspruit Farm near Schoemansdal, just outside Malelane, on Friday 9 January 2026.[1][2] Led by acting provincial commissioner Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, the officers removed the plants growing along the banks of the Mahlambanyatsi river.[1][2] Police valued the crop at about R2.9 million on the street.[1][2]
No arrests were made during the operation.[1][2] Provincial spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said the find marked a crucial advance against drug trafficking, and that an investigation had started to identify those behind the cultivation, who remained unidentified.[2]
Sources
- Mpumalanga Police Unearth Extensive Cannabis Plantation Along Mahlambanyatsi River Bank. Daily Argus, 10 January 2026.
- Mpumalanga Police Uncover Extensive Cannabis Plantation Along Mahlambanyatsi River Bank. Stocks24, 10 January 2026.