DRUG mule Tessa Beetge slipped back to South Africa yesterday after six years in a Brazilian prison.
Her aunt Marie Olsen waited for her at O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg with a bunch of yellow roses, her mother’s favourite.
Beetge’s mother Marie Swanepoel fought for her freedom and brought down a drug-trafficking ring linked to Sheryl Cwele, then wife of Siyabonga Cwele, in the process.
Swanepoel died in October and was buried in the Eastern Cape.
But Beetge slipped out of another exit to avoid media attention.
Olsen had travelled all the way from East London to Johannesburg for the first time in “years” to welcome her niece. She said she went for her sister “who lived her life to fight for Tessie”. “I brought these flowers for Tessa … as something so she feels the presence of her mother, I hope.”
Olsen was concerned that the death of Swanepoel would hit Beetge when she arrived home. “She will need to visit her mother’s grave.”
Olsen waited at the airport surrounded by media, checking every passenger to see if it was “Tessie”. “Marie had been excited as she knew her daughter was coming home soon. She had a home for her daughter.”
She thought Beetge would welcome the media, which she credited for supporting the fight for her freedom. “It is through the media that her story was kept alive. If it weren’t for media…” But as the passengers and then the crew of the Sao Paulo flight left the airport, Beetge did not arrive.
Olsen noticed Beetge’s best friend, a South African who spent two and half years with her in jail, had disappeared. She said she had wanted to make sure she would be one of the first faces Beetge saw when she entered the arrivals hall.
“Where is she? She must be here.”
Unbeknown to Olsen, Beetge and her best friend were whisked away without coming out of the international arrival hall.
Swanepoel’s fiance Jakes Jacobs, who had travelled to Johannesburg with Olsen, had hoped to meet Beetge. “She was a beautiful women,” he said of Swanepoel.
Beetge is staying with her friend in Pretoria. The friend said: “She is tired. She is overwhelmed. She doesn’t want to talk to the media.”
Olsen does not know when she will see or hear from Beetge.
Drug mule ‘Tessie’ slips aunt at airport
Her aunt Marie Olsen waited for her at O R Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg with a bunch of yellow roses, her mother’s favourite.
Beetge’s mother Marie Swanepoel fought for her freedom and brought down a drug-trafficking ring linked to Sheryl Cwele, then wife of Siyabonga Cwele, in the process.
Swanepoel died in October and was buried in the Eastern Cape.
But Beetge slipped out of another exit to avoid media attention.
Olsen had travelled all the way from East London to Johannesburg for the first time in “years” to welcome her niece. She said she went for her sister “who lived her life to fight for Tessie”. “I brought these flowers for Tessa … as something so she feels the presence of her mother, I hope.”
Olsen was concerned that the death of Swanepoel would hit Beetge when she arrived home. “She will need to visit her mother’s grave.”
Olsen waited at the airport surrounded by media, checking every passenger to see if it was “Tessie”. “Marie had been excited as she knew her daughter was coming home soon. She had a home for her daughter.”
She thought Beetge would welcome the media, which she credited for supporting the fight for her freedom. “It is through the media that her story was kept alive. If it weren’t for media…” But as the passengers and then the crew of the Sao Paulo flight left the airport, Beetge did not arrive.
Olsen noticed Beetge’s best friend, a South African who spent two and half years with her in jail, had disappeared. She said she had wanted to make sure she would be one of the first faces Beetge saw when she entered the arrivals hall.
“Where is she? She must be here.”
Unbeknown to Olsen, Beetge and her best friend were whisked away without coming out of the international arrival hall.
Swanepoel’s fiance Jakes Jacobs, who had travelled to Johannesburg with Olsen, had hoped to meet Beetge. “She was a beautiful women,” he said of Swanepoel.
Beetge is staying with her friend in Pretoria. The friend said: “She is tired. She is overwhelmed. She doesn’t want to talk to the media.”
Olsen does not know when she will see or hear from Beetge.
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