“I smoke dagga to boost my sex drive”: Inyathi sex worker

A 23-year-old woman who described herself as a sex worker left an Inyathi courtroom stunned after telling the court that she smoked dagga to boost her sex drive and improve her performance with clients.

Sharon Ndlovu appeared before Inyathi resident magistrate Mr Challenge Mahembe facing a charge of unlawfully possessing or using dangerous drugs as defined in Section 157(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Mr Mahembe convicted Ndlovu and sentenced her to pay a US$300 fine on or before August 31, 2026. Failure to pay will result in a six-month prison term. In addition, four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition that she does not commit any offence involving the unlawful possession, use, consumption, dealing in, manufacture or cultivation of dangerous drugs, failing which the suspended sentence will be activated.

In passing sentence, Mr Mahembe stressed that the courts do not condone the use of dagga and noted that the offender, despite her young age, was placing her future at risk.
“The offender is fairly young but is putting her life at risk and has the potential of becoming a drug addict. The Government is trying hard to fight the worrying rise of drug and substance abuse.

The courts, as guardians of society, should send a clear message that smoking dagga is not allowed,” said Mr Mahembe.
In mitigation, the offender shocked the courtroom with her candid explanation for using the drug.

“I am a sex worker. I smoke dagga to boost my sex drive, and it makes me perform better and please my clients so that they hire me again,” she said.

In aggravation, prosecutor Ms Happiness Nleya submitted that the offender had been arrested while smoking dagga in a public place in full view of children.
“She exposed children to drugs and she must be punished for being a bad influence. The State is praying for a harsh penalty of a fine,” said Ms Nleya.

Ms Nleya further told the court that on August 23, 2026, police detectives acted on a tip-off that the offender was in possession of dagga.
“The detectives rushed to the scene and found Ndlovu smoking dagga. They searched her and found a sachet of dagga,” she said.

The accused was issued with an exhibit seizure confirmation receipt. The court heard that the recovered substance was taken for weighing at Turk Mine Post Office.
The recovered dagga and the weighing certificate were subsequently produced in court as exhibits.