Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Former SA minister and ANC stalwart baffled by US arrest
27/10/2013 00:00:00
by Agencies

COMMENT - I hope this makes clear what the US and UK governments real attitude was to real freedomfighters, unlike the MDC. - MrK

SOUTH Africa businesman and anti-apartheid stalwart, Tokyo Sexwale, has lodged a complaint with Washington's embassy in Pretoria, following his brief arrest in the United States.

Sexwale, a rival of President Jacob Zuma who was ousted as housing minister in a cabinet reshuffle in July, was briefly detained at John F Kennedy International Airport while on a business trip, the SABC said Sunday, citing his lawyer Lesley Mkhabela

Anti-apartheid activists were banned from visiting the United States during apartheid, which ended in 1994. The ban has been lifted but not all the names have been removed from the list, Mkhabela told the SABC Mkhabela says the former housing minister was denied contact with his family or lawyer following the detention.

"He has instructed us to take the matter up with the authorities of the U.S. so we will address the letter to the U.S. Embassy in South Africa," Mkhabela said.

Sexwale is said to have been surprised by the arrest, as the trip was not his first to the US since the end of apartheid.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Alongside former President Nelson Mandela, Sexwale spent years in South Africa's Robben Island prison for his opposition to white-minority rule.

A charismatic politician, Sexwale later became a leading member of the ruling African National Congress and an influential businessman, founding the investment firm Mvelaphanda Group.

Labels: ANC, TERRORISM, TOKYO SEXWALE

posted by MrK @ 4:23 PM