Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Police Raid Home Of Winnie Mandela

Compiled From Wire Services

In a move that some called unprecedented in South Africa, police Wednesday raided the Soweto home of President Nelson Mandela’s estranged wife, Winnie, carting away a “large quantity” of documents that allegedly link her to a kickback scheme involving the construction of lowincome houses.

The raid was the latest incident in a recent string of allegations and political embarrassments involving Winnie Mandela, who serves in her husband’s cabinet as deputy minister of arts, culture, science and technology.

In South Africa’s long history of dirty tricks and political corruption, never before had police raided the home of a government minister, observers said.

Winnie Mandela’s critics called for her immediate suspension. Just weeks ago, she came close to being fired after criticizing the government her husband heads, saying it had not done enough to address the needs of poor black people.