The news came like a bolt from the blue, shattering the quiet life of Rosetta Bruintjies, a 54-year-old mother from Oudtshoorn. Her daughter, Jolene du Plessis, had just landed a job in Cape Town, a new chapter in their lives.
Bruintjies, overjoyed for her daughter, had waved goodbye, promising to care for her grandson while Jolene settled into her new life in the Mother City. But the joy was short-lived.
The world as Bruintjies knew it came crashing down when international news reports revealed that her daughter had been arrested at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the Philippines, allegedly caught with over 5kg of methamphetamine.
Bruintjies spoke to Rapport this week and said she was utterly shocked as she was completely unaware that her daughter had even left the country, let alone that she might have been used as a drug mule.
"I am sick with worry. I am trying to figure out exactly what happened and how my child ended up there, but it just doesn’t add up," Bruintjies said.
Du Plessis, who had entered the Philippines on an Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, was apprehended by authorities who allegedly found drugs worth R11 million hidden among bundles of clothes in her luggage.
Bruintjies, who has raised Du Plessis since she was nine, is struggling to cope with the reality of her daughter's situation.
"Early in August, she came to me and said she was going to Cape Town because she had found a job there. We were so happy about the job. If only I had known then what I know now, I would have kept my child with me," she said.
The news of her daughter's arrest has taken a toll on Bruintjies' health. The weight of worry is heavy, compounded by the uncertainty of her daughter's fate.
"I wonder every moment how scared and alone my daughter must feel in a foreign country," Bruintjies said.
Bruintjies explained that Du Plessis was not a social butterfly, preferring to spend her time at home. "Many days she just lay around looking at her phone, chatting with people or watching videos. I honestly can’t say that she physically met new friends in the time before her arrest," she said.
The call from her daughter on 19 August, informing her of the arrest and the suitcase full of drugs, was a shock.
"To my knowledge, she was in Cape Town; I wasn’t even aware she had left the country! She told me about the drugs and said she was caught. She also said she was shocked that the suitcase was full of drugs. I honestly don’t know if she was aware of the drugs. That’s something only she can answer," Bruintjies said.
Bruintjies is desperate to see her daughter and has reached out to the office of the South African ambassador in the Philippines for help.
"Maybe she can serve her sentence here so that we can at least see her and hear what the real story is," she said while hoping for a glimmer of hope amidst the despair.
Du Plessis is currently being held in Quezon City on charges of violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. If found guilty, she could face life imprisonment. She appeared in court on Thursday, and the case was postponed to 3 October.
The likely charges for Jolene du Plessis in the Philippines, given the alleged crime of possession of over 5kg of methamphetamine, would be under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Republic Act No. 9165).
Here's a breakdown of the potential charges:
- Violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs): This section covers the illegal possession of dangerous drugs, with varying penalties depending on the quantity and type of drug. Given the substantial amount of methamphetamine, Du Plessis could face a life sentence.
- Violation of Section 11.8 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs During a Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution, and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs): This section applies if the drugs were intended for sale or distribution. The penalty could be life imprisonment and a fine of ₱500,000 to ₱10 million (In Rands that is about R158,125 to R3,162,500).
- Violation of Section 11.9 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs in a Dangerous Drug Den, Dive or Resort): This section is less likely to apply in this case, as the arrest occurred at the airport, not at a drug den.
However, the specific charges and potential penalties will depend on the evidence presented by the prosecution and the findings of the court. The prosecution will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Du Plessis knowingly possessed the drugs and that they were intended for sale or distribution.
