The Johannesburg Regional Court heard in detail on Wednesday how a former Witwatersrand University student took a university staff member hostage on the campus in February.
Wits’ assistant registrar of students, Glenda Lane, told the court she was held at knife point for five hours by Thapelo Moselenyane (23). Her hands were tied together with a computer cable.
”At one stage I was refused to use my asthma pump, and was also not allowed to go to the toilet,” she testified.
”Moselenyane told me to utilise a flower pot to relieve myself but I used a waste paper basket.”
Moselenyane, of Orange Farm, south of Johannesburg, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of depriving Lane of her freedom from 10.30am to about 4pm on February 5.
The alleged hostage taker was on campus in connection with a roll-over loan after he was apparently refused permission to re-register because of unpaid fees. Lane previously gave him an emergency loan application form but there was a problem with one of the sureties and he was sent higher up the hierarchy without success.
Lane said the incident began when a door burst open and Wits’ dean of student affairs, Naziema Jappie, rushed in followed by a knife-wielding Moselenyane. Lane positioned herself between the two and Jappie managed to escape when security guards and a colleague arrived. Moselenyane insisted doors to the office be locked and demanded to speak with Education Minister Kader Asmal and the media.
Hours passed and eventually Lane thought she would end up sleeping in the office but a Wits official called the minister’s office. Asmal, who was in a meeting, was informed of the situation. Lane said Asmal later phoned, and Moselenyane initially listened attentively and later slammed the phone down.
”The day was saved by (former African National Congress Women’s League president) Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela,” whom Lane said Moselenyane had demanded Wits officials contact.
”Mrs Madikizela-Mandela phoned and it was quite an amazing thing because he visibly calmed down as she was speaking to him.”
Madikizela-Mandela eventually arrive at the campus at 4.30pm and opened the door to the locked office.
”She opened the door and I was free. I was feeling very emotional as a result when I saw her I burst out crying.”
Cross examined by the defence, Lane admitted Moselenyane had eventually allowed her to use her asthma pump. Moselenyane had sent out for food and promised he would not hurt her as long as she co-operated.
”He said he was not against me but the school system, claiming he had been lied to and had been sent from pillar to post.”
Lane said she would not have testified against Moselenyane had the choice had been hers because she understood his frustration, but not the way he tried to resolve his problem.
Moselenyane’s bail was extended and the prosecutor obtained a postponement to August 25 to call further witnesses. – Sapa