OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Friday 11.00am.
HOME Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi had an extremely close relationship with the notorious Bureau for State Security (Boss) during a decades-long collaboration with apartheid-era security structures, according to explosive in-camera testimony presented to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
This testimony “leaked to the Mail & Guardian this week” was made by former Inkatha Freedom Party central committee member Walter Felgate before the TRC last year, shortly after he defected from the IFP to the African National Congress. He had been one of Buthelezi’s closest confidants for years.
Attempts to reach Buthelezi for comment this week were unsuccessful. IFP secretary general MZ Khumalo said he could not comment on behalf of Buthelezi.
Felgate also revealed that Buthelezi allegedly formulated a secret conspiracy with right-wing whites to prevent South Africa’s 1994 elections by triggering a civil war. The plans were disbanded just before the voting that elected an ANC government.
Felgate reportedly possesses substantial incriminating evidence about IFP activities. He said that Buthelezi received monthly briefings from top intelligence agents of former prime minister BJ Vorster, former president PW Botha and apartheid generals for more than 20 years. According to Felgate’s testimony, Buthelezi held meetings with BOSS operatives on a regular monthly basis before 1973.