Cosas: We'll burn the prison down

2003-04-25 08:00

Johannesburg - The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) threatened on Thursday to do "anything" in its power to keep its honorary president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela out of jail even if it meant burning the prison holding her.

Cosas also called on school pupils and students to go to Pretoria on Friday to show support for Madikizela-Mandela who is to be sentenced in the Pretoria Regional Court on 43 charges of fraud and 25 of theft.

"We are prepared to do anything in our power to ensure that she is not in jail," Cosas president Julius Malema said in a statement.

"If it means burning the prison she is locked in, so be it."

'Mama is innocent'

Malema also slammed Madikizela-Mandela's fraud and theft conviction on Thursday.

"We are still convinced that Mama (Madikizela-Mandela) is innocent and she did not do anything wrong," Malema said.

He said she was convicted because she was a threat to many "reactionary people".

"The prosecutor is white, the magistrate is also white and the court buildings also represent the boere regime, however the accused is a black woman from a township called Soweto, and it does not come as a surprise she was found guilty."

Pretoria police said they were aware of the Cosas threat and had sufficient plans in place to deal with any incident.

"We will have a large contingent of police at the court and we will deal with any situation that arises," Superintendent Morne van Wyk said.

DA wants Winnie to quit

Earlier, the Democratic Alliance called for Madikizela-Mandela's resignation or dismissal following her conviction.

However, the ANC, the New National Party and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, among others, were more cautious in their reaction, saying the law should be allowed to run its course.

Madikizela-Mandela was found guilty on 43 charges of fraud and 25 of theft in the Pretoria Regional Court, while her co-accused, broker Addy Moolman, was convicted on 58 charges of fraud and 25 of theft.

The trial was postponed to Friday for argument in mitigation and aggravation of sentence. Bail, previously set at R5 000 for both accused, was extended.

DA Chief Whip Douglas Gibson said in a statement that an MP convicted on 43 charges of fraud should not remain in Parliament.

"Unless Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela resigns immediately, the ANC should terminate her membership of parliament without any further delay.

"The ANC kept her in parliament long past the time when they should have fired her," Gibson said.

ANC awaiting sentencing

But ANC Chief Whip Nathi Nhleko said the ANC respected the decision of the court.

"We will be studying the findings of the judgment accordingly, while awaiting sentencing.

"Any necessary steps will be taken when this legal process has been concluded," he said.

A separate statement issued by the ANC's Johannesburg headquarters said the party had been following the case with interest because of the positions Madikizela-Mandela held as ANC Women's League president, as a member of the National Executive Committee, and as a member of parliament.

"We respect and accept the outcome, which follows the due process of justice, and will issue an appropriate statement after the process has been completed and the case concluded.

"At the moment, we feel it would not be wise to comment further until the law has taken its course and the case has reached its finality," it said.

Nelson Mandela Foundation: Law must take its course

In another statement, the Nelson Mandela Foundation took a similar stance.

"Mr Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have always and always will continue to respect the judiciary and the verdicts they decide upon in South Africa.

"We are of the opinion that the legal process - including appeal if she intends to appeal - should be allowed to take its course before any further comments are made," the statement concluded.

NNP, IFP

NNP justice spokesperson Dirk Bakker said Madikizela-Mandela's conviction confirmed nobody was above the law.

"The law must now run its course to conclude this unfortunate chapter in South African history," Bakker said.

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said in its reaction that the law had taken its course.

IFP Safety and Security spokesperson VB Ndlovu said:

"While one feels sympathy for Mrs Madikizela-Mandela when considering the considerable and distinguished role she has played in South African politics and the great difficulties she has endured, the remains no individual is above the law and the administration of justice is impartial."

- SAPA