Is Boesak taking the rap for other ANC leaders?

By M.S. Prabhakara

CAPE TOWN, MAY 15 Dr. Allan Boesak, a heroic figure of the anti- apartheid struggle and founder-patron of the United Democratic Front, the umbrella organisation of internal opposition during the struggle, effectively an ANC front, entered the Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town this morning to begin serving his three-year sentence. The Supreme Court of Appeals in Bloemfontein had upheld his conviction on two counts of theft and one count of fraud relating to donor money.

As he arrived at the prison, accompanied by hundreds of chanting and ululating supporters, Dr. Boesak was given a ``hero's welcome'' by inmates and warders belonging to the police and Prisons Civil Rights Union.

Dr. Boesak had been convicted by the Cape High Court in March last year on three counts of theft and one count of fraud, involving over Rands 1.3 million, and sentenced to six years in prison. The Supreme Court of Appeals, however, set aside two convictions for theft but upheld the remaining convictions; and halved his sentence. At a media conference yesterday evening here, where he was accompanied by his wife and family and supporters, Dr. Bosak, however, reiterated his innocence. ``I will be entering prison as an innocent man...I am not guilty as charged,'' he said. He also maintained that his trial had been ``fatally politicised...because of who I am and my role in the struggle, to such an extent that even the judicial process did not escape its impact.''

Dr. Boesak also maintained that the funds he has been found guilty of stealing to enrich himself personally were actually used to find the political work of the UDF and the ANC. A written statement signed by Dr. Boesak and his wife, Mrs. Elna Boesak, distributed at the media conference said the Foundation for Peace and Justice, which Dr. Boesak headed and funds donated to which he has been convicted of stealing (he has also been convicted of stealing Rands 259,000 from the Children's Trust set up by the singer Paul Simon) ``in all its years of operation was never a charity or developmental organisation but a political entity created to serve as a front for the United Democratic Front and the African National Congress...the people for whose liberation we fought knew this, the leadership of the ANC knew this, the donors knew this and the board of trustees of the Foundation knew this.''

Ever since the scandal about the misuse of donor funds for personal enrichment came in the open about five years ago, Dr. Boesak has maintained his innocence. Top leaders of the ANC have stood by him. A statement issued after the judgment of the Appeals Court by the ANC's spokesperson, Mr. Smuts Ngonyoma, described Dr. Boesak as an ``honourable man.'' ``We hope and trust that he will come back more prepared to rejoin and further strengthen our ranks, and continue to make a contribution to the transformation of our society and building of our nation,'' the statement said. It is to be seen if this support will continue after his startling claims yesterday that he was essentially taking the rap for leaders more powerful then himself in the ANC. The Democratic Party has called for further investigations into Dr. Boesak's claim that donor money to the FPJ was channelled to the ANC.

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Section  : International
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