Kenny Motsamai

**Kenny Thabo Motsamai** (wey dem born as **Shadrack Doshani**, 1962 anaa 1963) be South African anti-apartheid activist, convicted murderer plus politician. E dey represent de Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), den since May 2019, e be permanent delegate go de National Council of Provinces from Gauteng. Before, Motsamai be military commander for de Azanian People's Liberation Army, wey be de military wing of de Pan Africanist Congress of Azania during apartheid time. Dem jail am for almost thirty years because e kill one white traffic officer during one bank robbery insyd 1989.

## Early life
Motsamai wey dem born as Shadrack Doshani insyd early 1960s, be former military commander for Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), wey be de military wing of de Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) during de apartheid time.

## Murder conviction
Insyd 1989, Motsamai plus some PAC fighters rob one bank insyd Rustenburg — dis act PAC approve am to take support demma anti-apartheid struggle. As dem dey rob, dem jam police, den Motsamai kill one white traffic officer. Dem arrest am after e return from military training wey e go do for Ethiopia. Same 1989, court convict am den sentence am to two life sentences. Even though de Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) later describe de action as political, de charge change go armed robbery — PAC talk say dis be trick to keep am for prison. TRC then refuse grant am amnesty, say de act no be political enough. Motsamai plus PAC still believe say e be political prisoner, den de party campaign hard for ein release. After dem free am for January 2017, Motsamai tell DRUM magazine say: "I won’t apologise for anything, there is no white person that has ever apologised for apartheid." E no show any remorse or apologise for de officer ein killing.

## Parole den re-arrest
On 18 January 2016, dem plan release Motsamai under conditional day parole afta de National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS) recommend am to de Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha. But Motsamai no gree sign de parole condition papers because e no understand de legal implications. Later, on 11 July 2016, e start ein six-month day parole. Dis parole mean say every day e fit comot Boksburg Correction Centre by 8am, but e for return before night. Authorities monitor ein movement through one electronic device, den dem ban am from taking part for any political activities. Then on 11 January 2017, de Correctional Supervision and Parole Board grant am full parole under some conditions, like make dem still monitor ein movement. Dem release am from prison on dat same day. By den, Motsamai spend 28 years for prison. After dem release am, dem give am one low-cost government house for Katlehong. Prophet Paseka Motsoeneng (wey people dey call Prophet Mboro) dash am R40,000, and Motsamai use am start car wash business. But dem talk say de business collapse few months later.

On 9 February 2018, dem arrest Motsamai at ein house insyd Katlehong because e violate Section 52 (7) of de Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998. De authorities talk say e break ein house arrest parole conditions by comot from Boksburg magisterial district on 7 February without permission from de Boksburg Community Corrections. Dem claim say on 8 February, instead of going to Hatfield insyd Pretoria for ein children demma pension matter as e talk, dem see am dey address protest for de Department of Military Veterans' headquarters, plus say e even act violently towards some department officials. Dem say dem warn am before not to break ein parole conditions. But ein lawyer, Andries Nkome, deny say any protest happen. E talk say Motsamai just dey among 250 military veterans wey go dey pursue demma benefits, den say de claim say Motsamai address protest be hearsay. On 21 March 2018, de Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, Michael Masutha, revoke Motsamai ein parole because e no respect de parole conditions. But Masutha decide say instead of de full 24 months imprisonment wey de Correctional Supervision Board for Boksburg recommend, Motsamai go only go back for three months. Dem release am from prison for June 2018.

## Parliamentary career
Motsamai comot from de PAC plus join de Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for July 2018. As e dey talk for one radio interview for POWER Breakfast, e explain why e join de EFF: “I was with the PAC because it was fighting for the land, but now the EFF is fighting for that, that’s why I am here.” Before de 2019 general election, EFF ein leader Julius Malema talk say de party go fight against Motsamai ein criminal record so dem fit send am go de National Council of Provinces (NCOP), wey be de upper house of South Africa ein Parliament. After de election, de Gauteng Provincial Legislature elect Motsamai as one of de permanent delegates to de NCOP.

Then on 23 May 2019, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, wey de constitution dey mandate to swear in new Members of Parliament, start de first sitting of de new NCOP. E cite section 106 of de constitution, wey talk say convicted criminals no fit become Members of Parliament. E indirectly refer to Motsamai ein past murder conviction plus say e dey on parole. But Chief Justice Mogoeng clarify say de clause dey apply only to convictions wey happen after de constitution take effect for 1996. Since dem convict Motsamai insyd 1989, de section no exclude am. EFF MPs plus people for de public gallery clap after de statement. After dem swear am in, Motsamai beg President Cyril Ramaphosa make e consider de welfare of military veterans, plus grant amnesty to political prisoners wey still dey serve demma sentence for prison.

Insyd September 2019, de African National Congress (ANC) talk say Motsamai “verbally abuse den almost physically engage” de ANC MPL plus Deputy Speaker for de Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Vuyo Mhlakaza-Manamela, during one NCOP programme. De ANC call make action dey take against wetin dem describe as Motsamai ein “unbecoming behaviour.”

Then on 7 September 2020, police arrest Motsamai outside Clicks store for Evaton after clash happun plus dem den e resist arrest. Dem carry am go Sedibeng Magistrate's Court where dem charge am say e assault police officer den resist arrest. Dem later grant am bail. But on 14 September, de magistrate's court dismiss de case.

## Ein life matter
Motsamai marry Mantombi Magagula den dem get three biological pikin. But on 29 June 2022, Motsamai ein adopted daughter, fourteen-year-old Lindokuhle Makotshi, die for hospital after dem rape and poison am on 27 June. Police arrest one 25-year-old man wey connect to de rape, den e appear for court. Now dem go add murder charge join de charge sheet.

## References


## External links
*Mr Kenny Motsamai at People's Assembly
*Profile at Parliament of South Africa