Freed white apartheid foe hailed in London

Press, 22 June 1984, Page 6

Freed white apartheid foe hailed in London

NZPA-AP London lan David Kitson, a 64-year-old Briton imprisoned for 20 years in South Africa after convictions for bombings and other anti-apart-heid activities, returned home yesterday to a hero’s welcome from black and white supporters. Mr Kitson was jailed in 1964 after being convicted of several bomb attacks and of membership in the military wing of the banned African National Congress, which seeks to overthrow South Africa’s white-minor-ity Government. He was released from prison six weeks ago and remained in South Africa until his return to London. Mr Kitson pleaded not guilty at his trial for the bombings but admitted being a member of the military wing of the congress.

Mr Kitson, whose family lives in London, made a victory salute with his clenched right fist as he left the plane at Heathrow Airport.

“It took a long time but I made it at last,” he told .reporters. “I’ve waited for this moment for quite a while and I’m very very happy.” Airport officials set aside

a private area for Mr Kitson’s meeting with his 50-year-old former wife, Norma, his son, Steven, aged 27, and his daughter, Amandla, who is 21. Weeping and smiling and escorted by British policemen, Mr Kitson walked arm-in-arm with his former wife through the crowd of supporters, who chanted Zulu songs. Although the couple were divorced by mutual agreement in 1966, the South African-born Mrs Kitson battled for his release. Last week she was one of a dozen anti-apartheid campaigners arrested in London during a demonstration outside the South African Embassy.

Members of the “Free David Kitson Committee,” who campaigned for his release, strung garlands of flowers around his neck.

Fighting back tears, Mr Kitson said, “I haven’t seen my wife for 10 years, my son for over a year and my daughter for some months. I want to meet them in private and I’m not sure how the experience will affect me.”

Members of his family were allowed visits to see him in prison in South Africa.