Ottilia Mmatjatji Malatji, the woman arrested on Monday for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport, was fired from her cashier job last year.
A Sowetan investigation revealed that Malatji, 29, who was believed to be a top actress, got into trouble for "going over" with R17 in the till of a Vorna Valley, Midrand, liquor store.
A report from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration between Malatji and the liquor store says that she lived in Ivory Park in Midrandand earned R2804 a month.
She worked there for 12 months before she was dismissed for the extra R17.
In her argument, Malatji told the commission that she "went over" on the till because she had forgotten that a customer bought airtime, which they [customer] collected later. The outcome of the hearing was "guilty and dismissed", and she was compensated with two months' pay.
Malatji set off a craze and a witch-hunt on social media when news of her drug arrest broke and she was identified as a top actress. She was allegedly caught with 15.4kg of ephedrine, worth about R4.6-million, in her luggage.
She had arrived on a flight from Abu Dhabi, and customs officials found the drugs upon searching her luggage, the South African Revenue Service said.
Ephedrine is used in the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, or tik. It's also used to treat asthma and is an active ingredient in some weight-loss substances.
Malatji made a brief appearance in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court, that was filled to the brim with mostly members of the media, yesterday.
Sars spokesman Luther Lebelo on Monday said Malatji was an actress.
Lebelo said she had had supporting roles in local television soaps such as e.tv's Scandal!, SABC3's Isidingo and SABC1's Skeem Saam.
Following speculations about her identity prior to her court appearance, police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the woman was not a celebrity but had appeared only as an extra in local television shows.
Malatji stood composed in the dock waiting for the date for her bail application to be set. The case was postponed to October 7.
Advocate Jabulani Dlangalala, who represents Malatji, told the media that Malatji was "doing alright".
"When you know you are not guilty of any crime, you don't have anything to worry about," said Dlangalala.
He said Malatji would be held at the Johannesburg Prison, known as Sun City, until her next court appearance.
'Drug-trafficking actress' just an extra
Ottilia Mmatjatji Malatji, the woman arrested on Monday for drug trafficking at OR Tambo International Airport, was fired from her cashier job last year.
A Sowetan investigation revealed that Malatji, 29, who was believed to be a top actress, got into trouble for "going over" with R17 in the till of a Vorna Valley, Midrand, liquor store.
A report from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration between Malatji and the liquor store says that she lived in Ivory Park in Midrandand earned R2804 a month.
She worked there for 12 months before she was dismissed for the extra R17.
In her argument, Malatji told the commission that she "went over" on the till because she had forgotten that a customer bought airtime, which they [customer] collected later. The outcome of the hearing was "guilty and dismissed", and she was compensated with two months' pay.
Malatji set off a craze and a witch-hunt on social media when news of her drug arrest broke and she was identified as a top actress. She was allegedly caught with 15.4kg of ephedrine, worth about R4.6-million, in her luggage.
She had arrived on a flight from Abu Dhabi, and customs officials found the drugs upon searching her luggage, the South African Revenue Service said.
Ephedrine is used in the manufacture of crystal methamphetamine, or tik. It's also used to treat asthma and is an active ingredient in some weight-loss substances.
Malatji made a brief appearance in the Kempton Park Magistrates Court, that was filled to the brim with mostly members of the media, yesterday.
Sars spokesman Luther Lebelo on Monday said Malatji was an actress.
Lebelo said she had had supporting roles in local television soaps such as e.tv's Scandal!, SABC3's Isidingo and SABC1's Skeem Saam.
Following speculations about her identity prior to her court appearance, police spokesman Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said the woman was not a celebrity but had appeared only as an extra in local television shows.
Malatji stood composed in the dock waiting for the date for her bail application to be set. The case was postponed to October 7.
Advocate Jabulani Dlangalala, who represents Malatji, told the media that Malatji was "doing alright".
"When you know you are not guilty of any crime, you don't have anything to worry about," said Dlangalala.
He said Malatji would be held at the Johannesburg Prison, known as Sun City, until her next court appearance.
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