In September, Rusty Labuschagne gave a motivational speech in Randfontein.
He described the 10 harrowing years he spent in a Zimbabwean prison on a false charge of murder, as well as other aspects of his life.
Rusty also spoke about how he gained the strength, faith and endurance to push through all the terribly harsh conditions until he finally became a free man on 3 April, 2013.
Rusty was born on 2 November 1961, one of four children on Tshabezi Ranch into a loving and pet-friendly home. At the age of six, he was sent to boarding school at Milton Junior School in Bulawayo, 200 kilometres away from home. After finishing his schooling, Rusty wanted to study Agricultural Management, but because his mother could not afford the tuition fees, he went to learn a trade in Bulawayo instead.
“On 3 January 1981, I started as an apprentice fitter and turner. I joined Old Miltonians Rugby Club, where I played beside great players like Rob Halstead and Neville Jenkinson.
The highlight of my rugby career was playing in two tests against Italy in Harare and Bulawayo.
“I was then offered a job on Nuanetsi Ranch, where I had spent some of the happiest days of my life as a young boy, while I was peaking as a rugby player and a member of the national squad in June 1982.”
Rusty and his first wife, Mary, married on 16 October 1982 when she was 19, and he was 21. They had two children – a son named Dustin in January 1985 and a daughter named Sandy in December 1986. “At the end of 1988, I signed a lease for the hunting rights in the Malipati Safari Area and adjoining areas and that is where my big break came.”
All went well for Rusty until in late 1989, when his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After undergoing a successful single mastectomy and with her cancer in remission, she found visiting Rusty’s camps a great joy.
“The 1990 season was the most productive period of my career. The safari camps were full, the cattle were doing well and the drilling rig was busy. However, I was never home and although Mary’s mother helped out in the office, my relationship with Mary suffered.”
Rusty’s mother passed away on 30 November 1993, and in 1995, the ranch was sold, taking care of the family’s debts.
“I then bought a small five-seater plane and after a six-week course I obtained my private pilot’s licence. I loved flying and it allowed me more time at home and less time on the road. Nevertheless, my relationship with Mary continued to deteriorate and our unhappy times affected our children, so in November 1996, we separated.” Late in 1997, Rusty met Sue, and they started dating.
Things went well until 28 November 2000, when Rusty and a group of friends went fishing. He accidentally rammed into another boat, and shortly after, without a body or evidence, he was accused of drowning a fish poacher and arrested. In April 2003, Rusty was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
During October 2006, Sue visited Rusty in prison, but he realised something was not right when she did not visit him during the following festive season. In February 2007, he received a letter from her, stating that she had moved on and was putting the past behind her.
During October 2008, I was reclassified as C class, which meant I had between two-and-a-half and five years left of my sentence and I could start doing menial jobs. I was also then moved to Harare Central Medium Security Prison.”
In May 2011, Rusty was transferred to Connemara Open Prison, a farm prison with a relaxed environment and roughly 100 inmates. He spent the last two years of his imprisonment there. “During my home leave period in 2011, I turned 50 and all of my close friends and family went out of their way to throw me a big birthday bash.”
On 3 April, 2013 at 2.12pm, Rusty finally walked out of prison, a free man. Within six weeks, he was back in the safari business.
On 19 October 2016, Rusty met Sandra Greaves. After two years of dating, Rusty proposed to Sandra in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, on 6 December 2018. In March the next year, the two wed in an intimate ceremony at Casalinga Restaurant in Johannesburg.
