High Flyers

News reports indicate that the 15 South African Airways crew members who were arrested in London on drug-related charges are getting off, high and dry. British authorities have dropped all charges on the SAA staff who were due to appear in court in London after they were apprehended with 50 kilograms of Mary Jane and apparently some snorting snow supplies hidden in their bags.

What was really shocking about the story was that it didn't just happen once but twice, within weeks of each other. So you can imagine the synchronised eye roll from members of South African tourism, government, SAA (we assume), media and the general public at the thought of another demerit in the Global Behavioural Tally. Another one. Generally speaking, very few get the benefit of the doubt so everyone immediately assumed their guilt (nothing says "drug smuggling" like 50kg's of The Green Dream, you know what I'm saying?). There were some who went with the theory that these drugs were actually in spiritual support for the English Rastafarian's, a bit like the missionaries who smuggled Bibles into Communist China, but its unlikely.

Tourism usually keeps things in perspective though. While some are still expecting politicians to change and complaining about government, inflation, the recession and service delivery, the South African tourism industry can guarantee Table Mountain, a hole in Kimberly, the Cape Wine Route, the Battlefields in KwaZulu Natal, game reserves, beaches, modern cities and rural villages, ex President and legend Nelson Mandela and the Big 5.

So what if our drug exports make the news? We've got fynbos for goodness sake. Fynbos. And safaris (the British love that). I do have to admit though that the charges seemed to have been dropped without much fanfare, wheeling, dealing, none of that. Suspicious? I know I am. But for now, we'll assume that all is indeed well. just be sure to pack your own bags on an SAA flight, bless them, and if the offering extends beyond chicken and beef to dope and crystal meth we'll start to worry.