OWN CORRESPONDENT, Mafikeng | Monday 10.00PM.
ARGUMENT in mitigation of sentence in the trial of former Bophuthatswana president Lucas Mangope started in the Mafikeng High Court on Monday.
SABC television news reported that sentencing was expected this week. Mangope has been found guilty on 102 counts of theft involving R3,5 million, including mining royalties paid to his tribe.
South Africa’s former ambassador to Bophuthatswana, Dr Willem Kotze, told the court Mangope was a role model among the rest of the former homeland leaders and would never be associated with corruption.
University of Transkei law professor Digby Koyana said a chief was the highest authority in his tribe. Mangope followed customary law by using the tribe’s funds for his own benefit, he said.