Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 13, 1991                   TAG: 9102130037
SECTION: NATL/INTL                    PAGE: A-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA                                LENGTH: Medium

TWO MANDELA WITNESSES REFUSE TO TESTIFY IN TRIAL

The development put the state's case in jeopardy and forced the third interruption in four days in the bizarre trial. The two men and the missing witness are the only surviving members of the alleged assault.

Prosecutor Jan Swanepoel told the court Kenneth Kgase and Tabiso Mono were too scared to enter the courtroom after the alleged abduction of Gabriel Mekqwe, who also was scheduled to testify against Mandela. The case was adjourned until today.

Swanepoel told reporters he expected Kgase to appear in court today, but there was no guarantee he would take the stand. A witness may refuse to testify but faces two years in prison if the court is not convinced there is good reason.

Mandela, the wife of African National Congress leader Nelson Mandela, pleaded innocent Monday to all charges against her - four of kidnap and four of assault. Three co-defendants pleaded innocent to the same charges.

Swanepoel then stunned the court by announcing that Mekqwe, a key witness and one of the alleged victims, was missing and reportedly abducted Sunday night.

He told reporters Tuesday it would be difficult to continue the case without the other two witnesses.

"They're scared because their mate has been kidnapped," he said.

Prosecutors allege the defendants kidnapped four young men from a Methodist Church in Soweto in December 1988, took them to Mandela's home and beat them. One victim, 14-year-old Stompie Seipei, died.