Mandela pal and crusader dies aged 95
DRAMATIC LIFE Mlangeni
AN anti-apartheid legend who was imprisoned alongside Nelson Mandela has died at the age of 95.
South African Andrew Mlangeni spent 26 years in jail after being convicted of sabotage with his great friend Mandela in 1964.
After his release from jail, he served as a member of parliament and lived in the township of Soweto.
He had recently been admitted to hospital with an abdominal complaint.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, called Mlangeni a “beacon of ethical leadership”.
He added: “Mlangeni has indeed passed the baton to his compatriots to build the South Africa he fought to liberate and reconstruct.
“His dramatic life was a unique example of heroism and humility.”
A LEGAL loophole that allowed Harry Dunn’s alleged killer to claim diplomatic immunity and flee to the US will be closed.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said yesterday that Washington and London had agreed to end the arrangement.
Anne Sacoolas, the wife of a US spy stationed at a British airbase, has refused to be extradited from America to face charges of causing 19-year-old Harry’s death by dangerous driving.
She is accused of crashing into his motorbike while driving on the wrong side of the road near RAF Croughton, Northants, on August 27 last year.
Harry’s family welcomed the move but said it had come too late and the loophole should never have existed.
His dad Tim Dunn said: “This is great news, but if it’s right for now, why was it not right 11 months ago? This has been changed because it was wrong, so if it was wrong, why can’t they admit it was wrong and send her back?
“Yes, it’s a good result. But they are not using the good result to get Anne back.”
Harry’s mum Charlotte Charles said she was “proud” their campaign for justice had helped close the loophole.
She added: “One of our campaign’s aims was to ensure that no other family can suffer the way we have.
“Harry, most importantly, would be very proud of us but we’ve still a long way to go. We’ve still to get Anne Sacoolas back.”
Mr Raab said: “The US waiver of immunity from criminal jurisdiction is now expressly extended to the family members of US staff at the Croughton Annex, thus ending the anomaly in the previous arrangements and permitting the criminal prosecution of the family members of those staff, should these tragic circumstances ever arise again.
“I know these changes won’t bring Harry back, and I appreciate the pain and suffering the family are still going through. But I hope this may bring some comfort to them, because I know they want to prevent any other family going through the same ordeal they have.”
Boris Johnson’s spokesman added: “What these arrangements mean is that, in relation to the level of offence Anne Sacoolas is accused of, she could have been arrested by police.”
He added that there was “no change” to their position that Sacoolas should be made to return to the UK.
The US State Department called the move “a reflection of our especially close relationship” with the UK. But Charlotte said: “I don’t understand what this special relationship is, when they’ve just put their foot down on something that is totally and morally wrong. Their words mean nothing.”
CHARLOTTE CHARLES HARRY DUNN’S MUM (LEFT)
Harry would be very proud of us. But we’ve still a long way to go to get Sacoolas back