President Nelson Mandela's former wife, Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, has failed to win formal nomination as deputy leader of the ruling African National Congress, state radio and party sources said yesterday.
State radio said the ANC Women's League, of which Ms Madikizela-Mandela is president, decided at the weekend not to make any proposals for senior positions when the party holds its 50th national conference next week.
The decision followed her nine-day appearance before the statutory Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where she was accused of kidnapping, assault and murder. Ms Madikizela-Mandela, who was divorced by President Mandela last year, denied all the allegations.
A party spokesman, Mr Ronnie Mamoepa, confirmed that the Women's League was not entitled to make a direct nomination for the post and said Mr Jacob Zuma, the ANC's leader in KwaZuluNatal province, was the only formal candidate for the post.
He said he was not an authorised spokesman for the league, which was expected to make a statement soon. Women's League officials were unavailable for comment, but a party source confirmed the league had decided to withdraw its support for Ms Madikizela-Mandela's nomination.
Ms Madikizela-Mandela (63) had been named by the organisation as its choice for the post of deputy leader of the ANC, which ousted South Africa's white rulers in elections in 1994.
Mr Mandela (79) will step down as party leader at the conference and the Deputy President, Mr Thabo Mbeki is the only candidate for the position. ANC leaders have identified Mr Zuma as their preferred candidate for the position of deputy leader, which will become vacant when Mr Mbeki takes control.
Ms Madikizela-Mandela had planned to challenge Mr Zuma, but her reputation was severely dented by the testimony to the commission of brutal assaults and murders by members of her entourage during the final years of the struggle against apartheid.
Party sources said the Women's League came under intense pressure to drop its support for Ms Madikizela-Mandela from ANC leaders anxious to avoid a divisive vote at the party conference.
Meanwhile, one of Steve Biko's police interrogators yesterday criticised his colleagues for their inhumane treatment of the Black Consciousness leader who died of injuries while in police custody 20 years ago.
Retired Warrant Officer Rubin Marx (75) told the commission in Port Elizabeth he did not approve of the methods used by his fellow interrogators, who prevented Biko from sitting down as he was being questioned. The officers then shackled him to an iron gate while he was badly injured.
Mr Marx, one of five former security policemen applying for amnesty in connection with Biko's death on September 12th, 1977, said he left the interrogation room in disgust because of the lack of respect being shown to the prisoner.