Facing the truth

The lawyers for the fiery politician, known to her supporters as the “mother of the nation”, have protested against what they term her victimisation, complaining that the commission is showing itself to be more sympathetic to the former president, P.W. Botha. In an exchange of letters released by the two sides the lawyers complained of “sensational” statements made to the media by the commission’s chief investigator, Dumisa Ntsebeza, about plans to force Winnie to testify. They said they were causing immense damage to her “political profile.” Referring to the refusal of Botha to appear before the commission they said it was “surprising” that they had failed to “flex the same muscle” with the ex-president “who displayed utter contempt for the law and the commission.”

Ntsebeza replied with a letter saying: “It is in the interests of your clients to co-operate with us. It is in her interests to clear her name and to refute the allegations against her.” He confirmed that Winnie had been named in connection with the murder of the teenage activist, Stompie Seipei, and the disappearance of other youths. Winnie was convicted of kidnapping Sepei and three other children, but cleared of murdering the boy — believed to have been beaten to death in a back room of her house — when she produced an alibi. Her bodyguard, Jerry Richardson, was condemned to death for the murder, a sentence later commuted to life imprisonment. A friend of Winnie, Xoliswa Falati, was gaoled for kidnap and assault.

Richardson and Falati are understood to have submitted amnesty applications to the truth commission, discrediting Winnie’s alibi and linking her to at least four other murders. Some of the victims are alleged to have been thrown down a Johannesburg mine-shaft, which truth commission investigators are this week trying to identify and explore.

Attempts have been made to prevent Richardson testifying before the commission. A former ANC military commander was entrusted by a group of prisoners to deliver their amnesty applications, but he appears to have trashed Richardson’s documents. The truth commission discovered the sabotage by accident, when it visited the prison to interview Richardson about the allegations against Winnie.

In addition to Richardson and Falati, a key witness who was kidnapped on the eve of Winnie’s trial, in 1992, is expected to testify to the truth commission. Katiza Cebekhulu has taken refuge in Britain after being released from a Zambian prison.

The truth commission investigation into the activities of Winnie and her “football team” has particular significance for its possible impact on ANC leadership elections later this year. At a congress scheduled for December Nelson Mandela is expected to stand down as ANC president in favour of his heir-apparent, Thabo Mbeki. There is no obvious candidate to succeed Mbeki and it is possible that the Women’s League will put forward Winnie.

Although her chances are seen as slim, her extraordinary talent for political survival and her grass-roots popularity raise at least a possibility that — unless she is completely discredited — she could mount a bid for the leadership of South Africa.

The Observer News Service