Nelson Mandela’s ex-wife, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, is facing possible prosecution for the deaths of two South African activists; Lolo Sono, 21, and Siboniso Shabalala, 19. Madikizela-Mandela expressed shock and said it was hard for her to fathom what new evidence could have appeared given the many diverse accounts presented more than 10 years ago to South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
“The father of Lolo Sono and unfortunately many others have also since passed, memories fade with time,” her statement said. “It is difficult to legally imagine how and what new evidence is contemplated, if the TRC confronted with so much diverse testimony, some of which possibly inadmissible in the courts, courts could come to a finding different to that of the TRC.”
Sono and Shabalala were found dead after allegedly going to Madikizela-Mandela’s house to obtain her help with leaving the country. Madikizela was accused of ordering her bodyguard to kill them on suspicion that they were spies for the apartheid regime. In a statement from her lawyers Madikizela pointed out that not only was no evidence was ever found to corroborate the story but competing versions of the killings were given to police from different people, many of whom were believed to be her political enemies.
In a 1991 trial, her bodyguards were accused of killing at least 18 boys and men she allegedly claimed were spies acting against her. Madikizela adamantly denied all knowledge of such killings.
