Staff Reporter
Pauline Mbangula, a 30-year-old woman from Namibia, finds herself at the centre of a deeply troubling story of greed, drugs and financial ruin that has gripped both Namibia and South Africa. In September 2024, she was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after arriving from São Paulo with over 68 pellets of cocaine ingested in her stomach—a dangerous and desperate act that speaks volumes about the pressures and choices that can lead people down dark paths.
Now held at Johannesburg Correctional Facility, infamously known as “Sun City,” Pauline awaits her fourth court appearance on February 26, a hearing expected to determine the status of her legal representation. Her journey through the legal system has been fraught with delays. Initially appearing at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on September 25, her case was postponed to November 3 to confirm the type of drugs found and allow her time to secure legal counsel. However, financial constraints have left her unable to hire a lawyer, further delaying the case until December 3.
Namibia’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Veiccoh Nghiwete, has confirmed that Pauline remains in custody, her future uncertain and her story a sobering reminder of the human cost of the global drug trade. Her next appearance will provide an update on her legal representation—a critical step in a process that will determine what comes next for this young woman caught in a web of circumstance, desperation, and greed.
