/ 22 May 2005

Mandela son-in-law faces US rape charge

Former president Nelson Mandela’s son-in-law is wanted by United States authorities for the alleged rape of a student in 1993, the Sunday Times reported in its early edition on Saturday.

Dr Isaac Amuah, who is married to Mandela’s eldest daughter, Makaziwe, was accused of raping the algebra student while an assistant professor at the Manchester Technical Community College in Hartford, Connecticut.

The state attorney’s office told the Sunday Times a warrant for Amuah’s arrest was issued in January 1994.

In December 1993, the court allowed Amuah to visit South Africa to spend Christmas with his family, on condition he returned to the US to face the charges. He never returned.

US authorities believed Amuah had fled to Ghana. Now that he is said to be in South Africa, they will start proceedings to have him returned to the US.

Amuah’s arrest warrant lists one charge of rape, two counts of sexual assault, three counts of unlawful restraint and failure to appear in court.

Amuah declined to comment to the Sunday Times about the case.

He has been married to Makaziwe for 15 years. — Sapa