AN EASTERN Cape woman has been jailed in Zimbabwe after being caught with 2kg of cocaine at Harare International Airport.
The 48-year-old Mthatha woman, Tobeka Theodore Ncombo, was travelling from Columbia in South America on an Ethiopian flight to Zimbabwe when she was arrested on December 18.
Her exact route from Columbia to Zimbabwe is not known. The drugs were found stashed in four textbooks in a black suitcase.
According to East London police, 2kg of cocaine has a street value of about R500000.
Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesman Clayson Monyela said the department was aware of the case, but had not been approached by the family for help.
“We know about it and the only thing that we can do is to offer consular services, the same thing that applies to any of South African arrested in any foreign country. The same will apply to her,” said Monyela.
Ncombo, who is said to have worked at a bed and breakfast facility in East London, is the second person from the Eastern Cape to be arrested in a foreign country for drug trafficking.
In 2011, Grahamstown woman Nolubabalo Nobanda was arrested in Thailand.
She was found with drugs in her fake dreadlocks and sentenced to 15 years in jail by a Bangkok court.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Ncombo’s family said that she, too, had been sentenced to 15 years in jail.
According to reports in Zimbabwean newspapers, Ncombo pleaded guilty to contravening the Criminal Codification and Reform Act as read with the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Her 70-year-old mother, Phumla, was shocked to learn from her other daughter Sizeka of the sentencing yesterday.
“My only wish is that my daughter be allowed to serve her jail term here in South Africa.
“I have heard many stories of brutality in prison and of hunger, not only in prison but in that country.
“I don’t want want her to die on foreign soil,” said the distraught mother.
Phumla said she last spoke to her daughter on November 16 and had last seen her days before. The mother said she supported the family and sent money home each month.
“According to what I know, she was working at a B&B in East London, but I don’t even know who owned it or where exactly it was,” she said.
The elderly woman said she only knew of her daughter’s arrest after Christmas when one of Ncombo’s friends, a school teacher, called them.
“Tobeka is a brilliant child and I found it odd . How on earth can she be made a drug mule?
“She has been raised good and she never gave us a problem; was cultured and has morals and is Christian.”
She said Tobeka dropped out of school in Grade 10 and fell pregnant at the age of 18. Her son stays in Coffee Bay.
Ncombo’s sister Sizeka said a police officer yesterday told her of the sentencing.
“Otherwise we’ve had nothing official from the government. We don’t know where to start to seek government assistance, we are just helpless. Fifteen years is a very long time and my mother may be dead by then,” said Sizeka.
She said she has been in contact with the police officer since Wednesday.
“Apparently Tobeka called her friend about her arrest. But Tobeka never called us, her family.”
Zimbabwean newspapers said this week that airport police reportedly received a tip-off and Ncombo was searched.
A Zimbabwean consulate official in South Africa referred the Daily Dispatch to the Zimbabwe Embassy in Harare but not in time for print. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
EC cocaine mule jailed in Harare
The 48-year-old Mthatha woman, Tobeka Theodore Ncombo, was travelling from Columbia in South America on an Ethiopian flight to Zimbabwe when she was arrested on December 18.
Her exact route from Columbia to Zimbabwe is not known. The drugs were found stashed in four textbooks in a black suitcase.
According to East London police, 2kg of cocaine has a street value of about R500000.
Department of International Relations and Co-operation spokesman Clayson Monyela said the department was aware of the case, but had not been approached by the family for help.
“We know about it and the only thing that we can do is to offer consular services, the same thing that applies to any of South African arrested in any foreign country. The same will apply to her,” said Monyela.
Ncombo, who is said to have worked at a bed and breakfast facility in East London, is the second person from the Eastern Cape to be arrested in a foreign country for drug trafficking.
In 2011, Grahamstown woman Nolubabalo Nobanda was arrested in Thailand.
She was found with drugs in her fake dreadlocks and sentenced to 15 years in jail by a Bangkok court.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Ncombo’s family said that she, too, had been sentenced to 15 years in jail.
According to reports in Zimbabwean newspapers, Ncombo pleaded guilty to contravening the Criminal Codification and Reform Act as read with the Dangerous Drugs Act.
Her 70-year-old mother, Phumla, was shocked to learn from her other daughter Sizeka of the sentencing yesterday.
“My only wish is that my daughter be allowed to serve her jail term here in South Africa.
“I have heard many stories of brutality in prison and of hunger, not only in prison but in that country.
“I don’t want want her to die on foreign soil,” said the distraught mother.
Phumla said she last spoke to her daughter on November 16 and had last seen her days before. The mother said she supported the family and sent money home each month.
“According to what I know, she was working at a B&B in East London, but I don’t even know who owned it or where exactly it was,” she said.
The elderly woman said she only knew of her daughter’s arrest after Christmas when one of Ncombo’s friends, a school teacher, called them.
“Tobeka is a brilliant child and I found it odd . How on earth can she be made a drug mule?
“She has been raised good and she never gave us a problem; was cultured and has morals and is Christian.”
She said Tobeka dropped out of school in Grade 10 and fell pregnant at the age of 18. Her son stays in Coffee Bay.
Ncombo’s sister Sizeka said a police officer yesterday told her of the sentencing.
“Otherwise we’ve had nothing official from the government. We don’t know where to start to seek government assistance, we are just helpless. Fifteen years is a very long time and my mother may be dead by then,” said Sizeka.
She said she has been in contact with the police officer since Wednesday.
“Apparently Tobeka called her friend about her arrest. But Tobeka never called us, her family.”
Zimbabwean newspapers said this week that airport police reportedly received a tip-off and Ncombo was searched.
A Zimbabwean consulate official in South Africa referred the Daily Dispatch to the Zimbabwe Embassy in Harare but not in time for print. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za / bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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