Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was "untouchable" during the final years of white rule, even though police believed she was involved in treasonable activities, a police officer told the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) yesterday.
"She was untouchable in my view," Supt Andre Kritzinger said. "She was not a person just to be approached. She was in a totally different category.
Supt Kritzinger was testifying at a continuation of last year's investigation by the TRC into allegations that Ms Madikizela-Mandela committed human rights abuses, including murder, in the late 1980s.
At the time many people were suspicious of the immunity from police harassment enjoyed by Ms Madikizela-Mandela (now 63), who was then still married to the African National Congress leader, President Nelson Mandela. They were divorced in 1996.
As a former leader of the United Democratic Front, Mr Azar Cachalia, told the TRC last year: "Some members of the community held the view that Mrs Mandela was herself working with the police."
Well-placed observers told The Irish Times that the purpose of reopening the hearing was to investigate police policy towards Ms Madikizela-Mandela.
Supt Kritzinger is one of several police officers subpoenaed to answer questions before the Truth Commission, chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Another is Col Eugene de Kock, whose notoriety has earned him the epithet "Prime Evil."
Col de Kock, who was jailed for 212 years in 1994 on multiple charges of murder, attempted murder and crime, is due to testify today. TRC investigators are certain to question Col de Kock about Johannes Mabote, a young man, who was befriended by Ms Madikizela-Mandela.
According to a police statement in the possession of the TRC, Mobote was a potential witness to the disappearance and murder of Stompie Moeketsi-Sepei (13) after he had been kidnapped and taken to Ms Madikizela-Mandela's house in Soweto, near Johannesburg.
However, instead of using him as a potential witness against Ms Madikizela-Mandela, Soweto police handed him over to Col de Kock, then the commander of a police "death squad" based near Pretoria.
Col de Kock admitted during his trial that he shot Mabote after he was handed over. The TRC will almost certainly question him closely on his motives for the killing.