Durban - At 9pm on Monday night, Marie Swanepoel asked a “kind” Brazilian prison warder to tell her daughter, Tessa, that Sheryl Cwele’s fate had finally been sealed.
For the first time in four years, it also gave Tessa Beetge, 35, a glimmer of hope – she could now qualify for a full presidential pardon or get her eight-year sentence reduced.
Swanepoel was reacting to news that the Supreme Court of Appeal had rejected the appeals by Sheryl Cwele and Frank Nabolisa.
Cwele – the former wife of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele – and Nabolisa, were convicted in the Pietermaritzburg High Court and sentenced in May 2011 to a 12-year jail term for recruiting Beetge and attempting to recruit Charmaine Moss, to transport drugs.
The Appeal Court found the sentences “disturbingly inappropriate” and increased both to 20 years.
Speaking from her home on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Swanepoel said she was “ecstatic” with the judgment and hoped Cwele would use the time in jail to ponder the hurt she had caused.
“I spoke to a kind prison official last night. She promised to convey the message to Tessa immediately. There was also talk that this development could also make their news headlines,” said Swanepoel on Tuesday.
“I am sure Tessa must be elated at the news. I am also glad the truth has finally been revealed.”
Swanepoel said in 2009, when her daughter was sentenced, she received an e-mail from the Brazilian authorities informing her that if anybody in South Africa was imprisoned in connection with Tessa’s case, they would reduce her sentence.
“I can finally take them up on their offer. I received the e-mail after I requested written confirmation about Tessa’s incarceration.
“This was at the very end of the e-mail. I have been hanging on to it from then.
“Now that Cwele is behind bars, it could set my daughter free. I wish she could come home soon...”
Beetge was arrested at São Paulo Airport on June 13, 2008, in possession of more than 10kg of cocaine. She was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, of which one year has been suspended.
Swanepoel said she would be drafting a letter to the Brazilian government on Tuesday, detailing the conviction and sentence of Cwele and her co-accused.
“Thankfully, they acknowledge all my correspondence. I am optimistic Tessa will either get a full pardon or her sentence will be reduced.
“Either way, I just pray it allows her to come home to me.”
Swanepoel said she had attempted to contact State advocate Ian Cook yesterday to assist her with making representations to Brazil.
“He has been very supportive. Unfortunately, I have not been able to get hold of him. I have left several messages and hopefully we will chat today.
“I am hoping he can speak to the Brazilian State advocate about the latest developments here.”
Swanepoel said she last spoke to her daughter in May, for her birthday.
“I speak to her twice a year. For her birthday and Christmas. I just pray all goes according to plan and she comes home soon.
“I hope to get some answers within the next week.”
For the past four years, Swanepoel has fought to see that Cwele and Nabolisa were brought to justice.
It was only through her courage and determination, the appeal court noted, that saw the “real culprits” brought to book.
“This is a fair sentence. If she was in Brazil, [Cwele] would have been given a minimum 21 year sentence,” Swanepoel said.
“She must take into consideration the effects of her actions, how people’s children die because of drugs and how others end up in prisons and how some commit suicide over drugs.”
Swanepoel, who is only allowed two phone calls a year to her daughter, said “I am sure she would be very happy to hear the news”.
“I will also send her the newspaper clipping and that will pick up her mood.
“I will not be able to speak to her myself until December.”
Swanepoel said her daughter was holding up well in the Brazilian jail.
“She is a strong person and she has a lot of faith in God. She does not have enemies and is an easy going person,” she said.
“She is okay there, but she does have her ups and downs especially around birthdays and Christmas.”
And as Cwele and Nabolisa prepare for life behind bars, Swanepoel said she would start fighting to have her daughter freed early.
“This chapter is not yet closed. I will be calling the Department of Foreign Affairs and appealing to officials in Brazil to see if there is a way I can get Tessie home early. I will only celebrate when she is home,” she said.
Has she forgiven Cwele and Nabolisa?
“Tessie has forgiven Sheryl, I am sure of that. That is typical Tessie. But I have not yet.” - Daily News