Man ready to jump for Winnie

2003-05-06 19:11

Johannesburg - A man is threatening to jump off a 32-storey building in central Johannesburg if Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is not acquitted on her fraud and theft charges.

The man is believed to be a former University of the Witwatersrand student who is facing a kidnapping charge for allegedly taking a member of the university's staff hostage earlier this year.

Police spokesperson Captain Mashadi Selepe said on Tuesday the man was also demanding to meet Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi and executive members of several political parties.

He also wants all black students excluded from tertiary institutions because of upaid fees, to be readmitted.

Selepe could not say why he wanted to meet Gadaffi or why he wanted Madikizela-Mandela acquitted.

Madikizela-Mandela, former president of the African National Congress Women's League, was sentenced to an effective eight months in jail last month after being found guilty on 68 fraud and theft charges.

Selepe said the man had given a letter to guards at the Trust bank building stating his demands.

The letter was signed Tshapelo Moselenyane.

Moselenyane is currently facing a court case after an incident at Wits University at the beginning of February this year when he allegedly held the senior assistant registrar hostage at knifepoint for several hours. He had apparently been unable to sort out his outstanding fees and re-register.

Selepe could not confirm that the man on the roof was indeed Moselenyane.

Selepe said the man, who had been on the building's roof since 11:00, was currently speaking to his lawyer.

- SAPA