Durban - Sergeant Busisiwe Zungu, the Durban harbour’s SAPS operational response unit member accused of drug trafficking in Hong Kong, is “well and in good spirits”, said a chaplain who visited her this week.
Zungu made her first appearance in a Hong Kong court on Thursday. The case was adjourned to next month for further investigation, including DNA samples.
Father John Wotherspoon of the Roman Catholic Church based in Hong Kong met Zungu on Wednesday. He said Zungu told him she had been arrested on the border of Hong Kong and China while travelling in a cab arranged by a hotel in Guangzhou, and not at the airport as initially reported.
“Busi says she is innocent. We chatted for nearly an hour. She was in a taxi-van with three other people travelling from Guangzouh to Hong Kong. I have met the three others (in jail), all men – an Algerian who lives in South Africa, a white South African and a Tanzanian.
“All four say they did not know each other before using the taxi. They and their driver were arrested at the border because in one piece of luggage was a bag with 500g of drugs (cocaine, I think). The driver was released on bail but was expected to appear in court with others,” he said.
Wotherspoon described the conditions at the detention centre as excellent. He said the country’s prisons were among the best in the world.
“Free meals, free medical care, free clothing. No violence, no bullying, no drugs. A firm but friendly relationship with a caring staff. After a period at Tai Lam, most inmates are transferred, so Busi’s address might soon change to Lo Wu Correctional Institution, Sheung Shui, but her prison number will stay the same,”
He said Hong Kong was thorough but slow in investigations of this type and if none of the four admitted guilt, the case could drag on for months. “But if one admits guilt, the case could be over quickly.”
Wortherspoon said there were more than 50 South African prisoners serving long sentences in Hong Kong, most for drug offences. However, there was hope that the South African government would agree a transfer agreement with Hong Kong so inmates, after serving part of their sentence, could serve the rest of their sentence here.
“The guilty person can face a sentence of around 10 years. They were lucky not to have been arrested in China. There are tens of thousands of Africans doing “business” in China, meaning drug trafficking. This is a very high adventure because of the death penalty,” he said.
He warned many Africans also did “business” in Hong Kong but the chance of not being detected were diminishing rapidly because of tight security at the airport and the country’s border with China.
“Hong Kong customs officials are being informed of drug traffickers. At least three cases have happened in the past two months, involving a group of four Africans, in two other cases, one African each. When they arrived, authorities were waiting for them.”
Wotherspoon mentioned that some felt a sense of betrayal while others thought they had been set up by a “gang or personal rivalry or revenge or already-convicted inmates with inside information” seeking a cut in their sentence by giving authorities information.
Patricia Gerber of Locked Up, the South African organisation that assists locals arrested abroad, said if Zungu was found guilty there was no chance of her returning unless the government signed a prisoner transfer agreement with Hong Kong. “Hong Kong sends all the other foreigners back to their respective countries to complete their sentences close to their families but our citizens have to remain there, isolated from their loved ones.”
“Every one denies knowledge of the package. It is going be interesting to see what is going to happen.”
A senior police officer who cannot be named because he is not authorised to speak to the media, said Zungu would also be served with a letter of suspension which would be forwarded to the embassy in China.
Zungu was a member of the SAPS for 11 years and also runs her own business. She is a partner and managing director at Impunga Holdings, a business development consulting company with branches around the province.
A retired Captain Bheki Mathenjwa, who worked with Zungu described her as a good officer who hated drugs.
“I can put my head on the block, I think she was with the wrong people. I always keep her in my prayers. She was a devoted Christian. I treated her like one of my daughters. She often visited my home when she had a chance,” he said.
Mathenjwa said Zungu had started her clothing business years ago. She would travel by bus to Cape Town to buy stock before discovering that clothes were cheap in China.
A spokesman for the Department of International Relations did not respond to queries.
Sunday Tribune