Mbuli gets a taste of freedom
2003-08-03 09:04
Ali Mphaki
Johannesburg - Mswakhe Mbuli is a free man - at least until this evening.
The People's Poet has been with his family since Friday, after he was given a weekend off by correctional services. The weekend off could not have come at a better time for Mbuli, who on Friday jointly celebrated his birthday with his daughter Thandeka who turned 22 while Mbuli turned 44.
This latest move by correctional services is a sure sign Mbuli's imminent release from jail - earmarked for November 28 - is indeed a reality although there is talk he may be released sooner.
Sources close to Mbuli say he was whisked from the Leeuwkop prison in a German sedan driven by record company EMI's business executive Leslie Sedibe.
It was an emotional moment for Mbuli when he entered the home he last saw six years ago on the morning of October 28, 1997, the day he was arrested.
After a hot bath and changing into new clothes, Mbuli was taken to the EMI studios in Steeledale where he was thrown a mini birthday party.
'Over the moon'
Among the people who were in attendance was kwaito musician Arthur Mafokate, who could not hide his joy at seeing Mbuli "after such a long time".
Moving from EMI Mbuli then visited former politician Helen Suzman at her home in Houghton, where they had biscuits and tea.
Suzman told City Press she was "over the moon" to see Mbuli outside prison and wished his release date could come much sooner. Suzman has over the years been visiting Mbuli in prison and has repeatedly said she is convinced Mbuli is innocent.
After seeing Suzman, it was time to go back home for Mbuli to find his family had arranged a small joint birthday celebration for him and his daughter. The better part of Saturday was spent at home with his wife and children, though there were several visitors like Ringo Madlingozi who stopped by during the day.
Mbuli also briefly met with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela late yesterday. She was elated to see the People's Poet.
"I feel renewed and recharged upon seeing this great son of the soil. After all, Mbuli is one of our jewels, a man we are all proud of," said Madikizela-Mandela.
Innocence
On Mbuli's birthday last year he was visited, by among others, former president Nelson Mandela.
By late on Saturday birthday messages for Mbuli were still pouring in, some from as far afield as London, from his international manager Gill Lyod.
Mbuli has been serving a 13-year-jail term for a bank robbery in Waverley outside Pretoria on October 22, 1997.
He has always maintained his innocence claiming he had gone to Pretoria on the day to meet a source who promised him information about a plot to kill him. This was after Mbuli had miraculously survived death when his car was sprayed with bullets outside Leondale on the East Rand a few weeks earlier.
Mbuli says as they were driving around Waverley (he was with two other men) they were stopped by police who implicated them in the bank robbery which had taken place a few minutes before. A bag containing about R15 000 and a grenade were found in Mbuli's car.
Speaking through Mark Leob, his fan club manager, Mbuli says while in jail he was approached by filmmaker Anant Singh with a view of making a film about his life.
Leob confirmed that talks were at an advanced stage and hopes were high that shooting for the movie might start some time early next year.
Mbuli will be going back behind bars this evening.
- City Press