Poet wants money, and revenge

2003-04-19 21:01

Ali Mphaki

Johannesburg - Jailed people's poet Mzwakhe Mbuli is among the people who will receive monetary reparations from the government as a victim of gross human rights violations. But he also wants those policemen who bombed his home in Pimville, Soweto in 1989 to be charged for defeating the ends of justice.

Only one cop, former security policeman Kobus Kloppers, applied for amnesty before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for his role in the bombing of Mbuli's home, though about 10 policemen allegedly took part in the attack. The TRC granted Kloppers amnesty.

Speaking to City Press from Leeuwkop prison where he is serving 13 years for bank robbery, Mbuli said those who stayed away from the TRC should face the music.

The bombing followed an earlier raid at his house, where police claimed to have found explosives. Mbuli and his wife Nomsa were arrested and he claims he was tortured before he was released on bail of R1 500 a week later and charged with possession of explosives and subversive material.

In his testimony before the TRC, Kloppers confessed grenades were planted at Mbuli's home after orders from Vlakplaas to have Mbuli "removed from the system".

He further testified the aim of planting the bombs was to have Mbuli found guilty and sentenced.

Asked why he did not object to the instruction of planting bombs at Mbuli's home, Kloppers told the TRC that nobody could question those instructions, "otherwise I would have been the one to be killed".

"It was a question of keep your mouth closed and do as you are told," he testified.

Derogatory terms

Kloppers also told the commission it was normal procedure to talk to suspects using derogatory words like "dog, langgat, kaffir and p . . s", and it was possible he had used those words against Mbuli.

Kloppers also confessed he was acquainted with Fabby Fabricius, the investigating officer in the bank robbery trial of Mbuli, for which he is presently serving 13 years in jail.

Interestingly, a large portion of Mbuli's sentence, 10 years, was for possession of a hand grenade at the scene of the Waverley FNB robbery in Pretoria.

No fingerprints were taken or found before the grenade was destroyed by the state's ballistic experts.

Mbuli mentioned that though he was uneasy about Klopper's amnesty application, and was also mindful he could not remember some things during his testimony, what worried him was that Kloppers did not make a full confession.

"But all I want to see is those who were with Kloppers when they attacked my home being brought to book.

"The time is now," Mbuli said.

- City Press