Sibusiso Nxumalo
A SOUTH African National Defence Force soldier has accused former members of ANC security department Mbokodo — now senior officers in the new defence force — of victimising him for testifying about abuses in ANC detention camps.
In a letter in the possession of the Mail & Guardian, Olefile Mngqibisa describes harassment by high-ranking officers at the camp. The letter is addressed to, among others, the commanders at the base, President Nelson Mandela, the Defence Ministry and the United Nations Human Rights Commission.
Mngqibisa appeared before the Motsuenyane Commission appointed by Mandela last year to hear claims of atrocities in ANC camps. He gave evidence of arbitrary arrests and torture carried out by Mbokodo. He also told the commission that current defence minister and former Umkhonto weSizwe commander Joe Modise had sent MK soldiers over the border to buy him expensive shoes and clothes.
The letter claims the commanding officer of the MK soldiers at Wallmannstal, Gibert Ramano, and his second-in-command, Steven Kobe — both ex-members of Mbokodo — have removed Mngqibisa from his post of brigade sergeant major, in his absence and without explanation.
In another letter addressed to Minister of Justice Dullah Omar, Mngqibisa claims the camp’s second-in-command told him he was being harassed because he had testified against Mbokodo. He also says that while problems between him and Ramano were resolved amicably, the latter admitted other MK people were unhappy with Mgqibisa’s presence at the base.
Mgqibisa describes an altercation with the second-in- command, Stephen Kobe, in which he was threatened with expulsion from the camp. He also claims that Kobe hinted he would shoot him.
Colonel Brian du Toit of the SANDF said it was an internal MK matter, and the SANDF could not comment on it. Attempts to obtain comment from MK commanders met no response.