Durban - “Dealing with the Chinese authorities was difficult and extremely painful, and at the end my sister died like a dog. It is as fresh as if it happened yesterday.”
That is how Nomvuyo Mthalane of Wentworth responded when asked how life was progressing after the execution of her sister, Janice Linden, in China in 2011.
Linden, who was 35 at the time, was arrested in the Chinese city of Guangzhou with 3kg of crystal methamphetamine in her luggage after arriving at Baiyun International Airport in November 2008.
She was convicted of drug smuggling in 2009 and sentenced to death.
Speaking to The Mercury on Monday, Mthalane was hesitant to open up the wounds. She said it was impossible for the family to get over it.
“The pain is still the same and there will never be healing,” she said.
Mthalane said a few days before Linden was put to death, she and her other sister, Nomalizo Mhlophe, went to China to “bid farewell” to their sister, although Linden was not aware she was going to die.
From the airport, it took them six hours to get to the prison. When they arrived, they were told they had to speak in English, so their conversation would be heard.
“Had we spoken in Zulu, we also could be locked up.
“We wanted to get the full story from the horse’s mouth, but they said we must not ask her.”
Mthalane said prison warders brought Linden in tied on something like a trolley. Her hands were cuffed and her feet were bound. About 15 police officers were on their side and 20 on Linden’s side during the meeting.
“When she saw us she was so excited and she cried.
“We asked to sprinkle her with with holy water, but they said no. We asked to hug her and take a picture, because we already knew she was going to be put to death the following day, but they refused permission.”
While they were still talking, the meeting was cut short and the trolley was taken away.
Mthalane said her sister's belongings had never been returned.
The Mercury