Masire defends Bosch execution

2001-04-04 14:50

Cape Town - Former Botswanan President Sir Ketumile Masire on Wednesday defended the execution of South African convicted killer Mariette Bosch, saying Botswana believed in the rule of law.

Speaking in Cape Town, where he is to receive an award from the Free Market Foundation, he told journalists he supposed Botswana could re-visit the issue of capital punishment.

"But as of now it is the law of the country, and is the law that is administered not by kangaroo courts but well-respected judges, some of whom come from South Africa or from abroad," he said.

Bosch, 49, convicted of her best friend's murder, was hanged in Botswana on Saturday without the knowledge of her family or government.

Her husband Tienie Wolmarans said he learnt of her death only on Monday morning. The South African government said it had no intention of formally protesting the hanging.

Masire said although so much had been said about the timing of Bosch's execution, sentence had been passed last year, and "it has been therefore more than a year".

Responding to claims of secrecy surrounding the hanging, he said this was how executions were normally carried out, and Botswana was not going to change its conduct because of one individual.

"For a long time in South African people were hanged, it was never made public to the extent people now think it should be made public in Botswana."

Masire would not be drawn on his views on the death penalty, which has been outlawed as barbaric and inhuman in South Africa.

"This is a matter for the government of Botswana to consider if it deems fit," he said.

"I should really let it act without projecting my views into the matter." - Sapa

- SAPA