Court seeks more to pin down alleged mercenaries

The case of the 65 men being held in Zimbabwe on suspicion of mercenary activities has been postponed for further investigation. The men will appear in a Harare Court on Monday. The case was due to be heard today.

Ronnie Mamoepa, a foreign affairs spokesperson, says he has been briefed to this effect by Jerry Ndou, South Africa's ambassador to Zimbabwe. The men are suspected of being part of a group of alleged mercenaries linked to a suspected coup plot in Equatorial Guinea. Fifteen others, among them seven South Africans, are being held in Equatorial Guinea.

Meanwhile, President Thabo Mbeki had a midnight meeting with a delegation from Equatorial Guinea regarding the alleged mercenaries arrested in that country. Speaking while on an election campaign trail in Mafikeng today, Mbeki said the country had asked South Africa for help in ensuring that the trial of the arrested men be transparent and fair. "It was a direct request," Mbeki said.

He said South Africa would not be doing the same in Zimbabwe simply because the Zimbabwean government had not made the same direct request. He said Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the foreign affairs minister, was currently working with an Equatorial Guinea delegation on the issue. South Africa has also agreed to help the country with its investigation into the alleged plotted coup. He said officials from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea were working closely together on the issue.

Death penalty
On the threat that the arrested men in Zimbabwe would face the death penalty, Mbeki said no charges had been laid against the men and it was doubtful people would be sentenced to death for fraud. "But no charges had been preferred, and I can't speculate on possible sentences," he said.

Mbeki said some of the men arrested in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea were known to the South African security organisations and some were former South African Defence Force (SADF) members. He said South Africa would definitely charge anyone of the men who was suspected of contravening the Foreign Military Assistance Act. - Sapa