Winnie: Poor security blamed

2003-04-22 19:57

Pretoria- Poor court security was to blame for the fact that a young woman managed to get unchecked to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in the dock while her fraud and theft trial was underway on Tuesday, the presiding magistrate said.

"I am shocked at the poor quality of security that exists in the court," Pretoria regional magistrate Peet Johnson said when the court reconvened after lunch.

At about noon, while Madikizela-Mandela's counsel, Ishmael Semenya, was delivering legal argument, a young woman walked straight up to where the African National Congress Women's League president was sitting in the dock.

There was no court orderly present at the time. Johnson immediately adjourned the court and Madikizela-Mandela's bodyguards took the woman out. She later identified herself as Lynnette Mahlangu, and said: "Winnie doesn't deserve to be there."

When the court reconvened at about 14:00, not only the orderly, but about 10 other police members were present.

At the start of the proceedings, Johnson said: "The court can't refrain from placing on record its dissatisfaction with the poor quality of security.

"I apologise to anyone who has suffered discomfort."

Madikizela-Mandela and broker Addy Moolman are facing 60 charges of fraud and 25 of theft.

- SAPA