Kebble 'was assassinated'

2005-09-28 11:01

Johannesburg - Mining magnate Brett Kebble was assassinated, one of his business partners said on Wednesday.

Andile Nkuhlu, who is also a member of the ANC Youth League, was one of a group of people expecting Kebble for dinner on Tuesday night. Kebble was shot dead on his way there.

Nkuhlu said Kebble was the victim of a callous, premeditated crime.

"This was pure assassination. There is no doubt about it," Nkuhlu said.

"I was at the scene. There was no attempt at a robbery. I saw it with my own eyes.

"The truth will come out about what happened to the life of this great South African."

Kebble was shot dead in Melrose, Johannesburg, around 21:00 on Tuesday on his way to the dinner engagement.

His vehicle and body were found on a bridge crossing the M1 to Pretoria.

Nkuhlu said Kebble, who was a member of the ANC, was a pioneer, passionate and committed to transformation.

"I knew him very well. He was a genuine friend. He broke much ground as a white South African. He was a patriot who embraced the new era.

"He believed in the unique values of our South African nation and he had passion for that."

Nkuhlu said Kebble was regarded as controversial because anyone who makes progress in life would be controversial.

"He was controversial for being true to the values of transformation," Nkuhlu said.

"He is not controversial because he did anything untowards. He made progress. He embraced new partners and said 'I will work with people who have been denied access to economy.' He was a true compatriot."

Nkuhlu said Kebble was a "noticeable fellow" who was very humorous.

He loved the art world and he loved nature. He was a peaceful in many ways.

Nkuhlu said he was one of a group of people who were waiting for Kebble when he was contacted by members of the media.

"They asked us if we were aware that Mr Kebble had died. We said no we are not aware," he said.

'A sad loss'

"This is a sad loss. Everyone is trying to recover and make sense of what has happened."

The police said on Wednesday that they were looking at the possibility that Kebble was assassinated.

Police spokesperson Superintendent Chris Wilken said he could not give any further details.

"We are looking at the possibility of this being an assassination, but there is no evidence to suggest this so far," he said.

"We don't know if he was led into an ambush or if he was followed.

"Further than that I can not say anything else."

Kebble's advocate, Willem Heath, said it appeared as though Kebble had been murdered.

"It appears that it was probably a malicious attempt to kill him and he was in fact killed," Heath told SAFM.

A family spokeswoman said the Kebble family were awaiting the outcome of an inquest into the death of Brett before commenting further.

The ANC said it was shocked and saddened by his death.

The trade union Solidarity, which had dealings with Roger Kebble in the mining town of Stilfontein, said it was mourning with the family.

The National Union of Mineworkers sent condolences to the family.

"It is sad that a young man of 41 who was keen to make a contribution, died," secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said.

- SAPA