Prosecuters have confirmed that they are considering laying charges against Mandikizela-Mandela for the murder of two young men in the 1980s.

Forensic scientists last week exhumed two skeletons with multiple stab wounds that they believe belong to Lolo Sono, 21, and Siboniso Shabalala, 19, who reportedly had gone to Madikizela-Mandela’s home to get help to leave the country to become freedom fighters. Forensic pathologists had stumbled on mortuary documents that led to the bodies, buried in a pauper’s grave, and the bodies now are being tested for DNA.

The Truth And Reconciliation Commission heard of the alleged murders over 10 years ago, but nothing was done at the time to pursue the allegations because the location of the bodies could not be determined.

According to evidence to the commission by her bodyguard Jerry Richardson, Madikizela-Mandela accused the two young men of being spies for the apartheid regime and ordered him to kill them. He said he and a colleague stabbed them to death.

She was, however, found responsible for the disappearance of Sono and Shabalala by the commission.

Hawks police crime investigation unit said it has opened two new murder cases, following the discovery of the men’s bodies.

A new trial against Mandikizela-Mandela may end in a stalemate, owing to the fact that most of the key witnesses in the case have since passed away.

Mandikizela-Mandela’s bodyguards were accused of the killings of at least 18 boys and men she allegedly accused of being spies acting against the Struggle. James (Stompie) Seipei Moeketsi, who was beaten and then had his throat slit. He was 14 years-old.

Stompie

In 1991, Madikizela-Mandela was sentenced to a six year jail term for Stompie’s kidnapping and assault, which on appeal was reduced to a fine and suspended jail term for acting as an accomplice in the kidnapping.

[Source : Vancouver Sun]