George, Western Cape, South Africa – Lynnette (Lynn) Blignaut called for global support from Thailand, where her daughter, Ashley Oosthuizen (26), had been wrongfully imprisoned for five years. Lynnette launched a crowdfunding campaign through BackaBuddy to manage living and legal expenses as they continued to fight for Ashley’s release.
Background
After graduating from Outeniqua High School in George, Western Cape, Ashley moved to Thailand in 2018. She initially worked as a teacher on the island of Koh Samui, but after being laid off, she secured a managerial position at the restaurant Hot in the Biscuit, which offered her a fresh start and hope for a stable, fulfilling life in Thailand.
However, her dreams were abruptly shattered on 8 October 2020, when Ashley unknowingly accepted and signed for a package containing 250g of MDMA, intended for someone else. Despite her innocence, she was implicated and arrested, leading to a wrongful conviction.
Pictured above: Ashley Oosthuizen
Heartbreakingly, at just 22 years old, Ashley was sentenced to death. After a lengthy legal battle, her sentence was reduced to life imprisonment and later reduced again to 33.4 years. However, justice had not yet been served. Her next appeal in Thailand’s High Court remained pending, with no court date yet confirmed. If clemency was not granted, Ashley would only be released at the age of 56.
Ashley’s Reality
Despite the challenges of prison life, Ashley showed remarkable resilience. Her Thai became excellent, enabling her to communicate and build friendships with fellow inmates. These connections provided mutual support and a sense of security in an environment where vulnerability was a constant risk.
Every day was a battle—to endure, to stay hopeful—but she remained grounded in her faith, and learned to put her trust in the living God, offering help to others and reading whenever possible, though she was only allowed nine books a year.
Lynnette expressed the heartbreak of being unable to protect her daughter, saying, “Ashley’s resilience, but most of all, my trust in Father God’s care for her, gives me hope despite the uncertain future she faces.”
For years, Lynnette and Ashley were only allowed to see each other through a Perspex divider, speaking for just 15 to 20 minutes, twice a week, at a time via phone, each confined to separate rooms. But on Friday, 24 January 2025, for the first time in nearly six years, Lynnette was granted a contact visit with Ashley—a deeply emotional reunion.
Pictured Above: Ashley Oosthuizen with her mom, Lynnette Blignaut. (January 2025)
Ashley’s Needs
Ashley still needed financial support for daily survival, as prisons in Thailand did not provide basic necessities—they provided watered-down rice three times a day, often containing questionable foreign objects. To stay healthy, Ashley had to buy her own food, toiletries, bottled water (as the available water was not always safe to drink), and pay for laundry.
Lynnette continued to fight for her daughter, saying, “As a mother, I did what any parent would—I uprooted my entire life and moved to Thailand in 2022 to be close to Ashley, visit her, and fight for her freedom. Staying here was crucial, as leaving would be devastating for her. However, due to visa restrictions, I was unable to work, and without a source of income at the moment, and my savings running out quickly, I would soon have to rely entirely on donations to cover Ashley’s daily needs in prison as well as my own living expenses while I remained by her side.”
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
To help cover these essential expenses, Lynnette launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy. Donations supported Ashley’s daily needs in prison, including food, bottled water, hygiene products, and laundry, which amounted to approximately ฿14,700 (R7,791) per month. Additionally, unexpected legal costs could arise, adding to the financial burden.
Funds also helped Lynnette remain in Thailand, ensuring she could continue visiting and advocating for Ashley—something vital to Ashley’s mental and emotional well-being. Her living expenses totaled around ฿17,000 (R9,010) per month. Combined, their monthly expenses amounted to ฿31,700 (R16,801). A full breakdown of costs was available on the crowdfunding page.
The campaign had already raised over R64 000 from 96 donors in just one month, demonstrating Ashley’s incredible support network and the widespread compassion for her cause. These funds were managed through Hearts4Ashley, an NPC established to support Ashley’s fight for justice.
To Support Ashley’s crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, visit here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/ashley-oosthuizens-fight-for-freedom. Donors are able to make once-off and recurring donations.
A Message from Lynnette
“To everyone who had supported us along the way—whether through donations, prayers, messages, or simply caring about Ashley—thank you. Your kindness and generosity carried us through the hardest moments, and knowing that so many people cared about my daughter meant more than words could express.”
Follow Lynnette for Updates
Lynnette posts regular updates on Ashley’s situation and their fight for justice through the following social media pages:
- Instagram: @avoiceforashley
- TikTok: @ashleyoosthuizen44
- Facebook: A Voice for Ashley
- YouTube: @avoiceforashleyoosthuizen
Update
Lynn Blignaut, the devoted mother of #AshleyOosthuizen, has shared a heartfelt message of thanks to the 95 generous donors who have supported their BackaBuddy campaign.
Thanks to your kindness through once-off and monthly recurring donations, over R62 000 has been raised — a true blessing that will help cover their living expenses for the next 3.5 months while Ashley remains behind bars in Thailand.
Watch the video to hear Lynn’s message of gratitude: https://youtube.com/shorts/E6n-saAcbWA?feature=share
If you’ve been touched by Ashley’s story, please consider supporting their campaign or sharing this post with someone you know. Incredible things happen when people come together.