Maggie jets in to lend support
2004-12-20 14:08
Cape Town - Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher arrived in South Africa at the weekend to spend Christmas with her son Mark who cannot travel as he is charged with bankrolling an alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea.
Thatcher arrived on from London on Sunday morning and would enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch at her son's Constantia home in Cape Town, informed sources said.
She travelled with friends and could stay for between six and 10 weeks, they said.
This is Thatcher's 10th annual visit to Cape Town since her son bought his plush Cape Town home.
A local radio station reported that Thatcher would spend time with former British government ministers, historians, and newspaper editors who were also holidaying in Cape Town.
Thatcher was arrested on August 25 in his Cape Town villa on charges of contributing $275 000 to help finance the suspected plot in Equatorial Guinea to overthrow President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, in power for 25 years.
His strict bail conditions were extended until the April hearing, meaning that the son of the Iron Lady will be confined to the Cape Town area for the next five months.