Zuma+prison+visit+to+Derby-Lewis+and+Walus,+Monare,+Sindy

Sunday Independent, Johannesburg, July 16, 2006 //Edition 1//
=Zuma's prison visit to Hani killers Derby-Lewis and Walus raises Mbeki's ire=


 * Moshoeshoe Monare**

ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma visited the killers of former South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani, a move that is said to have annoyed President Thabo Mbeki.

Five sources said this week the visit was at the request of Clive Derby-Lewis - who is serving life imprisonment for conspiracy to murder - to either divulge information regarding a wider conspiracy in the assassination of Hani or/and a possible presidential pardon.

But the department of correctional services said on Friday that "the said offender/s did not ask or submit any request or permission to be visited by anyone including Mr Zuma".

Zuma, through his aide Ranjeni Munusamy, declined to comment. While the department of correctional services and sources close to Zuma said the visit took place when he was still deputy president of the country in 2005, a C-Max prison official said the visit, which appears to be a different one, took place months after Mbeki fired Zuma as deputy president.

However, Liesl Gottert - a film maker who produced a Zuma documentary - said she was part of a visit in March 2004, seemingly a different visit.

"Derby-Lewis made two requests: he asked to see Zuma in his position as deputy president of the country at the time, and the second request was that I be present. [And we] complied… They did not know each other. They discussed a number of issues… It was a start of [a] process," Gottert said, but added that Zuma never visited again.

However, on Friday the department of correctional services officially said that Zuma visited the prisoners in 2005. Zuma, according to a source close to him, he "duly" informed Mbeki about the visit.

Murphy Morobe, the head of communications in the presidency, said on Friday that he was not aware of "that particular issue, so I'm not able to make any comment on it".

Mbeki is said to have raised a concern about the visits to the prisoners "by some people" at the ANC's parliamentary caucus last month, a member of the caucus confirmed on Friday. The president, according to this source, was concerned about people using "desperate" measures to discredit him.

"He asked what the motives of these people were. He said there had been attempts to take over the government and the ANC through [the use of] dirty, desperate methods. He stressed that these people were using Zuma's name," the parliamentarian said.

Moloto Mothapo, the spokesperson for the ANC parliamentary caucus, could neither deny nor confirm the alleged Mbeki comments.

"We cannot comment on issues or the content of discussions of the caucus because caucuses are by their nature closed sessions and confidential meetings. We can never confirm or reject the media speculations as far as caucus deliberations are concerned," he said.

The Sunday Independent could not confirm the exact dates of Zuma's prison visit or visits because the prison official source said it was an "extraordinary visit", and therefore not recorded in the normal visitors' books as per prison procedures.

Mandla Mkabela, the Pretoria area commissioner for the department of correctional services, said through Luphumzo Kebeni, a spokesperson, that "Zuma did visit the said offender/s in 2005".

"It is also confirmed that Mr Zuma's visit was and is regarded as official by virtue of his office and capacity as deputy president of South Africa at the time. The visit was officially approved [by Mkabela] and all visitation procedures were followed and the visit was managed and monitored [by Mkabela], taking into account the status of Mr Zuma as deputy president of the country," Kebeni said.

Zuma was apparently "shocked" by Derby-Lewis's narration of a wider conspiracy, which included the involvement of former military intelligence.

But tensions sparked by the succession battle in the ANC have led to whispers about "comrades' involvement".

It is believed that Derby-Lewis asked Zuma to convey a request for a meeting with leaders of the SACP, who were initially opposed to such a meeting.

But after Zuma briefed the SACP leadership, the party was no longer sure about its stance. Blade Nzimande, the SACP general secretary, was prepared only to say: "We are considering the issue."

However, he said, the SACP was still opposed to a presidential pardon or release of Derby-Lewis and Polish immigrant Janusz Walus - who is also serving a life sentence for murder.

The duo were both denied amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in April 1999 for failing to provide "full disclosure".

The SACP's Young Communist League (YCL) said it was prepared to listen to the killers.

"Part of the things they need to do or say to us is to remove this dark cloud hanging over the assassination issue. We will be prepared to listen. We hope it's not an act of desperation on their part," said Buti Manamela, the YCL national secretary.

Last year, a day after Zuma's offices and house were raided following corruption charges, the YCL demanded the reopening of the Hani case. Manamela said their call "had nothing to do with the [Zuma and Derby-Lewis] meeting. Whether he [Zuma] met Derby-Lewis or not is immaterial to us".

The YCL had a meeting with National Prosecutions Authority a fortnight ago about the reopening of the case, a call that was rejected by the NPA. The SACP reacted angrily to this.


 * From: http://www.sundayindependent.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3340715**

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