April 27 2012 marks 18 years since South Africa’s first democratic elections. Before the 1994 polls, the country was governed by the National Party, whose ideologies were based on a segregated community. Race was a factor that determined the liberties that each person was entitled to. The post-apartheid elections were the first truly free and fair elections that allowed all South Africans, of voting age, to select who they wanted to govern the country.

18 years on, many are interested in finding out how the post-apartheid generation are faring in a democratic SA. How do they relate to members of the older generation, who experienced the atrocities of the past and do they have faith in the current ruling party? Do the so-called Born Free children hope for a thriving state? 
For one man, the idea of freedom and equality in the country hasn’t yet become a reality. He’s never seen a democratic South Africa nor did he ever expect to set foot back in it. 

Shani Krebs’ story 

Around the time that Shani Alexander Krebs was 34-years-old, his sister Joan Sacks encouraged him to go to Thailand to experience the Water Festivals that took place as part of New Year’s celebrations. The trip would also hopefully allow him to get over a bad break-up. Krebs was due to return to South Africa on the 26th of April in 1994. 

Sacks says she woke up early one morning, concerned that she had not heard from her brother in a while - he was meant to have returned from his holiday. She called the South African embassy and was told, “Oh, he’s all over the newspapers. He was arrested for trying to smuggle drugs out of Thailand”. Sacks says the next time she saw Krebs, he was shackled in a cage and was being asked by Thai court officials to plead guilty or innocent to a charge of smuggling 1.7 kilograms of Heroin. If he pleaded innocent, he would be sentenced to death. Krebs chose life and was sentenced to 100 years in prison. 

Reminiscing about her visits to Bang Kwang Central, Sacks says she remembers the gravity of the situation and the dire conditions that he was forced to live in. The truth of the matter is that it’s incredibly difficult for families to bring their loved ones who are jailed abroad, home. South Africa does not have prisoner transfer treaties with other countries, nor does it interfere in the judicial processes outside of its borders. 

Krebs’ sentence was reduced from 100 years to 40 in December 2011, when Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej celebrated his 84th birthday and granted amnesty to foreign prisoners convicted of drug offences. 

Stepping into a completely different world

From the minute that Krebs lands in South Africa on Saturday morning, he will not recognise the South Africa he once called home. He took off from Jan Smuts International Airport in the Transvaal or PWV in 1994 and will jet into OR Tambo International in Gauteng 18 years later.

Sacks says it’s the basic home comforts that her brother has missed the most, “Shani just wants to take a warm bath…he loved to bath and they only have cold water there.” He hasn’t seen the stars in 18 years nor has he driven a car. Sacks laughs, adding “You know my brother left at a time when black people weren’t a common sight on TV.” The family is anxiously preparing for his arrival and his niece Kerry says she’s very excited to finally be with her uncle. His nephew Darren adds, “From ‘94 ‘till now, there have been massive changes and we don’t see it, so it’s going to be a massive shock for him.”

The Krebs family has a limousine ready to fetch him from the airport and have bought him an iPhone and a laptop. They have also furnished his bedroom and their home is filled with his artwork- which he started in prison as a way to escape the harsh reality he had to call home for close on two decades. 

His 88-year-old mother Cathy never thought she’d see her son again, as he was imprisoned when she was in her 60’s. 

She thought she would die before he came home.

OR Tambo International Airport’s arrivals terminal was packed with anxious family members and well-wishers who had come to welcome Krebs home. Among those in the crowd was Mark Sher, who has known the family since they were youngsters, living in an orphanage. Sher remembers the day that Krebs was arrested – he was shocked, because Krebs had overcome many personal challenges at the time.

Strangers, who had heard about Krebs’ story via social media, were also at the airport. Many said they were excited that Krebs would now have a chance to change his life.

When Krebs finally walked though the terminal doors he was met with loud screams, as his family rushed to embrace him. He was clearly overcome by the support, “It’s overwhelming and even though I haven’t seen much I am really happy to be home. As I walked through the gates I was thinking to myself, this is my country, these are my people and I am home.”

It was the reunion between mother and son that was probably the most touching. 88-year-old Cathy Krebs hugged and kissed her son, happy to finally see him on South African soil.