OWN CORRESPONDENT, Cape Town | Tuesday
ALLAN Boesak, the jailed anti-apartheid leader and cleric, walked out of the Goodwood prison at 6am this morning, after serving a third of his three-year sentence for fraud and theft.
Boesak, a flamboyant former leader of the African National Congress in the Western Cape province, was in 1999 convicted of fraud and theft involving foreign donor funds destined for victims of apartheid.
The money was given by Scandinavian donors and US singer Paul Simon to an organisation he headed during the 1980s when he was at the forefront of the struggle against white rule.
“It’s wonderful to be back,” Boesak said after his release.
He said his faith had been tested but strengthened during his year in prison.
Wearing a grey suit and blue shirt, Boesak was greeted by a small crowd of supporters. One woman screamed “Boesak we love you.”
He was initially sentenced to six years in jail but the sentence was later halved when the Appeals Court dropped the amount of money he was guilty of taking by more than half to just over R147 000, currently worth $18 650.
Boesak began serving his sentence in Malmesbury, outside Cape Town, on May 15 last year but in August it was ruled that 10 months would be taken off his jail term for good behaviour.
He found himself in trouble two months later though when it was discovered that he had been making telephone calls, including to a cabinet minister, from a stolen cellphone in jail.
However last week the Western Cape director of public prosecutions, Frank Kahn, announced that he would not prosecute Boesak in connection with the cellphone – paving the way for his release.
Provincial correctional services commissioner Mnikelwa Nxele said Boesak would as part of his parole conditions not be allowed to leave the greater Cape Town area without permission.
The African National Congress also welcomed the release, promising to give Boesak a “jubilant” welcome. The party has remained staunchly supportive of Boesak. In 1999 he was invited to attend President Thabo Mbeki’s inauguration despite the charges against him. – Boesak is expected to address supporters at a church service in Goodwood on Tuesday night. – AFP
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Background:
Boesak backgrounders