Issues that emerged during that time were the question marks hanging over a cheque for 350,000 rand that she received from Pakistan as head of the women's league and allegations that she was involved in dubious diamond-dealing in Angola. In 1992, she had been forced to withdraw from her position in the women's league provincial office, and all other posts she held in the ANC following allegations that she had abused party funds. In March 1995, her political life had seemed over when police raided her Soweto home. However it became a big embarrasment when the police and justice department committed blunders, and thus failed to raise a case against her. Now she faces yet another test and some feel she will emerge even stronger from it.
People are closing ranks, they feel the organisation is being infiltrated by external forces.
Some who may not have been on her side are sympathising with her precisely because of the TRC hearing. She has a strong power base within the organisation. She and another member, Peter Mokaba, termed 'populists' by a rival section of the party, had been absent from a list of nominees hand-picked by Nelson Mandela that was turned down by the conference. But the organisation needs someone like her. All rights reserved.