The longest prison sentences handed out to a South African was a man serving 25 years, and 15 years for a woman. File picture
Cape Town- The South African High Commissioner to the Republic of Mauritius, Hlamalani Manzini, has alerted a delegation from the Department of Social Development (DSD) over the high number of South Africans imprisoned in Mauritius for drug trafficking.
This, as the delegation left on Monday to repatriate a five-year-old child born of a South African woman arrested for drug trafficking while pregnant in May 2019.
They are expected to return to South Africa with the minor who has spent her entire life inside the confines of a Mauritian prison, tomorrow.
She will be handed over to her grandmother in the North West, who has agreed to take care of the child.
Manzini shared there were 38 South Africans incarcerated in Mauritius at present - 23 men and 15 women.
DSD spokesperson, Bathembu Futshane, said all of these were for cases of drug trafficking.
The longest prison sentences handed out to a South African was a man serving 25 years, and 15 years for a woman.
In a statement, the DSD said many South Africans were incarcerated for up to six years on average while still awaiting trial with no bail.
The biological mother of the child has been awaiting trial since her arrest.
The officials were scheduled to meet with the child and the mother in prison, yesterday.
Willem Els, senior training coordinator in the ISS’ ENACT organised crime programme, said: “South Africa is known as the so-called southern route from two directions. For one, from Afghanistan and Pakistan, the heroine that they need to get to Europe… There is what we call the ‘Swahili Coast’, from Oman down the east coast of Africa down to Mozambique.
“So they started to use that route and it is also referred to as the ‘Heroine Coast’. All the heroin or most of the heroin comes down to South Africa via Mozambique and Tanzania while here in South Africa, some of them are distributed amongst South Africans but the bulk is then finding its way via Nigeria, to Europe, to America, and also to the far east via Mauritius.
“Now your cocaine, that's why we have so many drug mules being arrested from São Paulo, that is also the southern route from South America. They make use of the drug mules, and also hide it in luggage.”
He said there were several South Africans imprisoned, especially in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Mauritius has become a hub for not only illicit drug trade but also for the smuggling of money.
“So that route is very active for your organised crime syndicates,” Els said.
In any country where South Africa has got a consulate or embassy, it is the responsibility of the ambassador or staff to visit those incarcerated and to check on their wellbeing.
Els said now that there is a Government of Unity (GNU), all roleplayers including governmental departments, various sectors, and non-governmental organisations should develop a new strategy to address this situation.
“What is very important is that it seems like South Africa doesn't really have a holistic strategy to counter this. I think that now with the new GNU, it's time to re-design all the strategies, more inclusive policies that we see from all the ministers... Because law enforcement cannot do it alone.”
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za
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