Winnie: First Marike, now Hazel

2003-11-18 22:13

Lizel Steenkamp

Johannesburg - For Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the death of her close friend, Hazel Crane, has opened old wounds incurred when Marike de Klerk, South Africa's former first lady, was murdered two years ago.

Speaking after Crane's memorial service on Tuesday, Madikizela-Mandela said she was still struggling to come to terms with De Klerk's murder.

"I still think of Marike de Klerk and the terrible way she was murdered. This whole thing with Hazel takes me back there daily," said a devastated Madikizela-Mandela of her two friends.

Crane was gunned down in Abbotsford last Monday in what has been described as an assassination.

Crane was due to testify on Monday in the murder trial of Lior Saat, the man suspected of murdering Crane's former husband.

'I prayed to God to take her'

According to Madikizela-Mandela, the first of five shots hit Crane in the head. "That shot must have killed her. Why four more shots?" she asked.

"I saw Hazel after the attack and prayed to God to take her. She would never have been the same again," she said.

Almost 100 people attended the Johannesburg businesswoman's memorial service.

A thunderstorm with strong winds and heavy rain made the atmosphere at Fourways Memorial tense and dramatic.

After the memorial service, Madikizela-Mandela spoke out against the government for "allowing murders, hijackings, baby rape and the abuse of women".

"These things are a charge against our country. I hope our government does something to bring an end to this," she said.

- Beeld