DURBAN April 20 1999
MKHIZE, POWELL UNDER INVESTIGATION: PROSECUTOR
Inkatha Freedom Party MPL Philip Powell and African National Congress health MEC Zweli Mkhize were under investigation for alleged gunrunning, KwaZulu-Natal director of public prosecutions Moketedi Mpshe said on Tuesday.
Mpshe said Powell was being investigated on a charge relating to weapons he allegedly received from Vlakplaas security police base commander and convicted killer Eugene de Kok before the 1994 elections.
Powell allegedly obtained six truckloads of guns from De Kok. Four truckloads were collected on October 1, 1993 and two more on October 20.
Mkhize was being investigated on allegations of conspiring to kill IFP midlands leader David Ntombela and for alleged gunrunning in the province.
Earlier, KwaZulu-Natal premier Lionel Mtshali ordered a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations against Mkhize.
Mpshe said he believed there would be arrests after everything was finalised.
He said the investigations were not associated with weekend newspaper reports that Mkhize and Powell were among a number of the province's political leaders who would be arrested on charges ranging from illegal possession of arms to murder.
The reports were carried by the Durban based weekend newspaper Sunday Tribune, and Johannesburg newspaper Sunday World.
Powell said he had not received any reports from Mpshe's office about him being investigated. "I am not in a position to comment on what has not been mentioned to me," Powell said.
Mkhize was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, but ANC spokesman Dumisani Makhaye said the party was not against the investigation. "We do not have any problem with the investigation and if there is any evidence they have a right to investigate.
"We have been saying that the ANC is not above the law and we are all subject to investigation," he said.
Makhaye said the ANC had been calling for an independent judicial inquiry to investigate all allegations against people who were named by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and in some court cases.
He said there was a need for an inquiry which findings would lead to serious prosecution.
"We are also calling for special courts which will deal with political violence cases," he said.