A PENSIONER who made telephonic death threats to then deputy president Thabo Mbeki has been jailed for five years by a Cape Town magistrate. Theo James Keown, 51, of Parow,made the first threat in a telephone call to Tuynhuys on May 27 last year, and the remaining four to the African National Congress’ office in Athlone on May 28. Magistrate Wilma van der Merwe earlier found Keown guilty on five counts of intimidation, but treated them as one for the purpose of sentence. The magistrate told Keown if he behaved himself in prison and gave his full co-operation, he would probably only serve a portion of his sentence. She also said his manner of venting political frustrations was unacceptable. Although Keown had no intention of carrying out his threat to kill Mbeki, van der Merwe said, Mbeki’s staff, who received the calls, could not have known this.