Man Caught Selling Abortion Pills Sentenced

An Eastern Cape man arrested after selling abortion pills to community members has been sentenced in the East London Magistrate’s Court.

Julius Kintu, 36, was found guilty of violating the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act.

Kintu was caught selling Cytotec pills to the public in East London, according to Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, the provincial spokesperson for the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks).

The investigation was led by the Hawks' South African Narcotics Enforcement Bureau (Saneb) and Serious Organised Crime investigation team, she said, in collaboration with SAPS Crime Intelligence.

“An investigation was conducted on suspects peddling Cytotec tablets to members of the community in the East London area. Cytotec tablets are used by medical practitioners to induce an abortion.

“Several purchases of the tablets were witnessed during the period between October 21, 2021, and November 11, 2021,” Mgolodela said.

At the time of Kintu’s arrest, 120 Cytotec tablets were confiscated together with R3 250 (N83,812), in cash.

“Kintu was given a combined sentence of R8 000 (N206,307) bail or 21 months direct imprisonment,” Mgolodela said.