Nazmeera Ebrahim is hoping Cassimjee Bilal, a South African truck driver charged with swindling President Robert Mugabe’s wife, will be set free soon. Bilal and three other South Africans have been caught in the crossfire between Grace Mugabe and her former associate, Ping Sung Hsieh, after a $1million deal went sour.
Earlier this year Bilal, 28, Henry Radebe, 57, Samuel Baloyi, 60, and Sydney Sekgobela, 44, were hired by Ping to deliver three trucks to Grace Mugabe’s aides in Harare. The deal dates back to 2007, when the Mugabe family agreed to buy six haulage trucks from South Africa for $1million. Zimbabwe’s reserve bank transferred the money to Ping’s company in South Africa – but the trucks were not delivered.
Finally, on February 18 this year, Ping sent the four drivers to deliver the trucks. But the South Africans were arrested on arriving in Harare. They were granted bail after two weeks in jail, but may not leave Zimbabwe before their June trial. Ebrahim, 28, has had to delay preparations for her transplant by two months because of her husband’s incarceration. Although the four drivers are living in a house in Harare, and can phone their families, they have to report to the police twice a day. Despite the phone conversations, Ebrahim said the uncertainty about Bilal’s return was “killing” her.
Post published in: News