Of course you're innocent, Sheryl

Presumed innocent, until proven guilty: the central pillar on which our entire legal system rests. In the case of the passengers on our Gravy Train, however, they should probably be presumed guilty… until proved guilty, that is. Yes, one of our passengers has again been dragged out and flogged in public… metaphorically speaking, of course.

Sheryl and Siyabonga were one of the less showy of the couples on the train (unlike the Mpisanes) but unbeknownst to everyone were quietly accumulating their own gravy reserves on the side. Credit has to go to Sheryl too, she was incredibly entrepreneurial – everyone else just gets the government to give them their money – she went out and earned it. Almost like an honest living!

Of course, you don’t get on the Gravy Train without a little help from your friends (or family) and Sheryl is no different. She somehow got her position as Director (of Health and Community Services, nogal!) even though she applied late – which probably didn’t matter since she didn’t bother to complete an application form. I suppose the surname and a reference from hubby – then Chairperson of the ANC in the area – would suffice. She certainly didn’t meet the Department’s minimum requirements.

She had a good working relationship with her colleagues. Probably because she was there so seldom! She was off work for more than four months between March 2009 and her arrest in January 2010 and when she did bother to go to work she arrived late, left early and sometimes didn’t go back after lunch.

Then there’s the question of motive. Why, when she was earning a salary of more than 700 grand and hubby earned R1,8 million, would she have to resort to criminality – at least such blatant criminality? Well, dear reader, if you ask that, you clearly do not understand the workings of the Gravy Train.

Naturally, Siyabonga knew nothing about it. He was far too busy with his day job as Minister of Safety and Security chasing bad guys all over the country. How could he be expected to know Sheryl’s dealing drugs at home? Who’d look there?

Sheryl’s appealing the verdict. As I was saying it’s innocent until proven guilty in our judicial system. But we know better, don’t we Sheryl?

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