Convicted drug mule to speak at lunch
EACH new day is a gift for former beauty queen and convicted drug mule Vanessa Goosen, who spent 16 years and gave birth to her daughter in a Thai jail.
Vanessa, who reached the finals in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant in 1994, the year she was imprisoned, will tell her harrowing story at the first Tuesday Rostrum meeting of the year. Join her and the ‘friendly thinking women’s club’ for lunch at Mbango on Tuesday, February 10, at 12.15pm. To book, contact Denise Millar at 039 3172600.
Not long after the Miss South Africa beauty pageant, Vanessa opened an exclusive men’s boutique in Johannesburg. At the recommendation of a friend of her then-boyfriend, she travelled to Thailand on April 10, 1994 to source items for her store. Looking forward to the adventure, she excitedly believed the trip to Thailand would be the first of many buying sprees – but it was not to be.
Within the first four days of being there, the friend contacted her and asked her to bring some engineering books back to South Africa for him. She carried them with her for the rest of her trip, never giving them another thought until she reached the airport – and her world came crashing down around her.
During check-in she was suddenly surrounded by customs officials who found white powder in the parcel of books. Although unable to communicate in Thai or plead her innocence, Vanessa realised she was in deep trouble when she was shown a poster that read ‘ heroin = death penalty’.
All her hopes and dreams – for herself and the baby she was carrying – evaporated as the terrifying reality of her situation began to sink in. During the days that followed she was not granted access to her family or the South African Embassy and, after her court case, was transported directly to prison. There, an Australian inmate who could speak Thai explained that her death sentence had been commuted to life imprisonment. Her relief was, however, soon overwhelmed by the deep anger that welled up inside her.
Six months later, the birth of her baby girl gave her strength and she focused on caring for her child as best she could. When her daughter turned three, Vanessa had to say goodbye to her, entrusting the toddler to her good friend, Melanie, in South Africa. Not long after that, when she was transferred to the main prison, she received another blow. Her amnesty application had been turned down. She slipped into a deep depression that lasted four years.
A fellow inmate finally jolted her out of this state by accusing her of being selfish and not fighting to be back with her daughter. Her energy renewed, she continued her battle and, after her fifth amnesty application was granted, received a full pardon. In November 2010, she found herself on a plane, flying home to South Africa, 16 years, six months and 16 days after that fateful day at the airport. The joy of returning home was, however marred by the news that Melanie had suffered a heart attack and died.
Reunited with her family, her struggle is not yet over as she comes to terms with her ordeal. However, her courage is not only helping her through the healing process but is touching other lives as well.. As a motivational speaker, she inspires her listeners as she shares her story of defeat, hope and triumph. She has also written a book about her imprisonment and is involved in drug rehabilitation and development programmes.
