Statistical evidence from the United States suggests that black defendants convicted of killing whites have been sentenced to death 15 times more often than white defendants convicted of killing blacks, according to a study published by Amnesty International yesterday.
The Congress of South African Students (Cosas) threatened on Thursday to do ”anything” in its power to keep its honorary president Winnie Madikizela-Mandela out of jail even if it meant burning the prison holding her.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela, could be sentenced to 15 years in jail today after being convicted for fraud and theft in a bungled banking scam.
The Zimbabwean government has turned piecemeal repression of opposition activists into a campaign of full-scale systematic violence in recent weeks, taking advantage of the world’s focus on the Iraq war.
Hundreds of thousands of Shia worshippers from all over southern Iraq converged at one of the sect’s holiest shrines this week, in a deliberate display of political and religious strength.
A crowd of about 150 members of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) demonstrated noisily outside the Department of Health in Struben Street, Pretoria, on Thursday as part of the organisation’s civil disobedience campaign.
Government has decided to include financial advisers in draft tax and foreign exchange amnesty legislation.
”Viva Winnie!” echoed through a corridor of the Pretoria Regional Court on Thursday minutes after the person many regard as the ”mother of the nation” was found guilty on 68 criminal charges.
Reacting to the hint that President Robert Mugabe could retire, South African opposition leader Tony Leon says said the Zimbabwean president made conciliatory statements ”in order to buy time but he has no intention of being bound by his words”.
ANC Chief Whip in Parliament, Nathi Nhleko, says any ”necessary steps” will only be taken when the legal process is concluded. In his response, Nhleko said the ANC respected the decision of the court.