Drug mule’s family hope for the best

THE family of Durban-born Tyron Coetzee, who has been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam, have pegged their hopes on diplomatic efforts should he lose an appeal he has little time to lodge.

The Coetzee family would then bank on the South African government asking Vietnam to arrange him a prison term.

“Our greatest concern right now is the unpredictability and time that we have should the appeal fail,” his elder brother, Elton, told the Independent Media from Gauteng, where the family moved when Tyron was a child.

“Some South-east Asian countries have been known to execute within days after the appeal and we simply cannot afford to lose any time in this regard.”

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation said Tyron, 34, has been provided consular services and that his case is being monitored. However, Elton said the department had told the family by phone that it had already laid the framework in their request for a lesser sentence. The final decision rests with the Vietnamese authorities.

The family believe Tyron was set up as a decoy.