BY DOROTHY FLYNN
South African musician and "People's Poet" Mzwakhe Mbuli — jailed on trumped up charges of armed robbery — attended a hearing of the Amnesty Commission of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Pretoria on September 18. The TRC was considering an amnesty application by police officer Kobus Klopper for planting grenades in Mbuli's Soweto home as the musician was about to leave on a world tour in 1988.
Klopper claimed not to remember details, but he acknowledged receiving direct orders from superiors at Vlakplaas, the farm where the apartheid security forces' death squads were based. Mbuli opposed Klopper's application, stating he did not believe that Klopper had told the whole truth.
Because of the apartheid regime's harassment, Mbuli was forced to cancel his tour and was detained for a total of two years — including six months in solitary confinement — after which he was released without charge.
The 1988 planting of evidence by the security forces bears a striking similarity to the events surrounding Mbuli's arrest in October 1997, allegedly for armed robbery and possession of a hand grenade. He was convicted in March 1999 on circumstantial evidence after a bizarre trial and is now serving a 13-year sentence at Leeuwkop Maximum Security Prison. Mbuli and his supporters maintain that he is innocent. An appeal is scheduled for November 9-10.
It is suspected that Klopper is connected to one of Mbuli's arresting officers, Fabby Fabricious (another arresting officer committed suicide on the eve of Mbuli's trial). Klopper was present in court when a "missing" police file related to an investigation on an attempt to murder Mbuli suddenly resurfaced during the trial. (Prior to Mbuli's arrest in 1997, he had complained about police failure to make progress with the investigation into a 1996 attempt on his life, when nine bullets were sprayed into his car.)
At the time of the 1997 arrest, Mbuli was also accused of other unsolved crimes, perhaps to ensure that he would be denied bail. Some of the charges — including robbery of a liquor store — fell by the wayside. Mbuli was acquitted of the remaining charges of robbing and shooting a businessman in May.
Many supporters believe the police charged Mbuli with possession of a grenade in 1997 hoping the public would associate Mbuli with grenades from the past. The recent TRC hearing, which proved that police planted grenades on Mbuli once before, calls into question the motives of those accusing Mbuli.
The poet, who was once a favourite son of the African National Congress but who did not stop speaking out against corruption after the transition to democracy, has been treated like a menace to society. Before his trial, he was detained for a year in harsh conditions more befitting apartheid than democracy.
His treatment has seemed incredible for a widely loved public figure and an inspiring opponent of apartheid. When Mbuli was arrested, the ANC government indicated that he would not receive "special treatment". However, others have fared far better than he. Even the racist terrorist leader Eugene Terreblanche was released after serving three months of a one-year sentence.
Recently implemented prison restrictions include denying inmates photographs of loved ones and access to normally allowed items of personal clothing. There have even been rumours that access to the daily papers will be removed. Mbuli was the first to report black suspects being routinely brought to prison with dog bites, which the government denied but which BBC news later documented.
When taken to court, Mbuli has been transported in a cage, and on one occasion a hearing was cancelled because wardens refused to remove shackles during court proceedings. Supporters have thronged to all events where he has been seen, and it has been clear that their faith in him has remained unshaken.
Known widely for his courage and unbreakable spirit as well as for his poetry and music, Mbuli remains undaunted and expresses confidence that the truth will ultimately set him free.
An international campaign for Mzwakhe Mbuli has been established and can be contacted at <campaign@mzwakhe.org> or by telephone at +1 617 876 3169. The campaign's address is PO Box 390058, Cambridge, MA, USA 02139.
The Free Mzwakhe Mbuli web site (<http://www.mzwakhe.org>) reports current events related to his detention and there is an online petition people can sign. Message of support will be relayed to Mbuli via <mzwakhe@mzwakhe.org>. Mail can be sent to: Mzwakhe Mbuli, Leeuwkop Maximum Security Prison, Private Mail Bag x2, Bryanston, South Africa 2021.