/ 1 March 2007

Winnie robbery accused rearrested

Two of the five people accused of stealing jewellery worth R4-million from Winnie Madikizela-Mandela’s home were rearrested after being released on bail, police said on Thursday.

Superintendent Thembi Nkhwashu said Paul Githuka and his son, Pati Wangwayi, who are both Kenyans, were released on bail on Wednesday and re-arrested later for being in the country illegally.

The other three suspects, Mbuso Vutela, Nolwazi Githuka and her daughter Jerry, were denied bail, Nkhwashu said.

The five made their first appearance in the Orlando Magistrate’s Court at Soweto in Johannesburg last Friday.

Their attorney told the court that his clients were being beaten by police at the station.

He requested that they be moved to prison, but the magistrate refused this request.

The Star newspaper reported last Friday that the Githukas were related to Madikizela-Mandela.

Madikizela-Mandela was in the United States two weeks ago, and on her return discovered two safes at her Orlando West home had been stolen and a third tampered with.

She has been quoted as saying she was not aware of relatives being arrested.

Police also would not say whether any of the suspects were related to the former African National Congress Women’s League president. — Sapa