Web site launched for imprisoned South African poet
By Norm Dixon
The Campaign for the Release of Mzwakhe Mbuli has a launched a web site to publicise the case the renowned artist. Mbuli is known as South Africa's "people's poet" for his daring appearances during the apartheid struggle. The site is at <http://www.mzwakhe.org>. It contains background information and an on-line petition calling for Mbuli's release.
Mbuli is incarcerated at Pretoria Maximum Security Prison after being framed on charges of armed robbery and possession of a hand grenade. Mbuli was convicted on March 29 and sentenced to 13 years.
The prosecution's case relied entirely on circumstantial evidence. The court ignored Mbuli's defence that he was framed by vengeful police and corrupt politicians who feared Mbuli would disclose information about their activities that had come into his possession.
Shortly after sentencing, he was transferred to maximum security, where he is subject to an abnormal level of restrictions — more severe than prisoners with sentences as long as 200 years. Apart from the punitive treatment directed toward Mbuli, conditions for all prisoners at the prison are horrible.
Mbuli was a thorn in the side of the apartheid security establishment. He became a township legend in the 1980s when, while on the run from the security forces, he would appear from nowhere, recite revolutionary poetry at the funerals of freedom fighters and then melt away. These appearances severely embarrassed the cops. When he was finally apprehended by the apartheid regime, he was jailed and tortured. He held in solitary confinement for 176 days and then released without charges being brought against him.
The record of the South African Police shows that they stop at nothing to neutralise their opponents — frame-ups are just part of a day's work. It seems those days are not over in the "new" South Africa.
Mbuli, the beloved people's poet and hero, is not allowed to have food brought to him from outside, which is customary in South Africa for prisoners. He is allowed only one visitor, one phone call and one letter received each month. He is to be forced to do hard labour.
It is suspected that this harsh treatment is due to Mbuli's having spoken out about the poor conditions that prisoners face, such as the lack of a consistent supply of clean drinking water, numerous health problems including scabies, and black prisoners routinely being brought in with bites from police dogs.
Supporters and friends of Mbuli are being targeted. Writers in the US who have spoken out against the poet's treatment have found that mail from them to Mbuli, as well as mail sent from South Africa to them, has been tampered with while in the care of the South African Postal Service. A complaint regarding these incidents has been lodged with the South African Embassy in Washington.
People wanting to express concern about Mbuli's treatment and call for his release should write to the South African President Thabo Mbeki at <president@anc.org.za> and forward copies to Amnesty International at <amnestyis@amnesty.org>. The Campaign for Release of Mzwakhe Mbuli can be contacted at <Mzwakhe4u@aol.com> or write to PO Box 390058, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.