Man convicted for murder of South African historian

A man was convicted yesterday of murdering world-renowned historian David Rattray, South African Broadcast Corporation radio reported.

Sethe Nkwanyana, 23, was found guilty by the Pietermartizburg High Court just two days after his arrest and was to be sentenced Monday.

The death of David Rattray, a friend of Britain's Prince Charles and an expert on the 1879 Anglo-Zulu war, has put South Africa's high rate of violent crime in the spotlight again.

Rattray was shot dead on January 26 by a six-man gang at his Fugitives' Drift guest lodge in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal.

SABC radio news reported that Nkwanyana was also found guilty of attempted robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty to all the charges.

Nkwanyana told the court he and five others had gone to Rattray's lodge with the intention of stealing money. He said they fled after one of the men shot Rattray.

Earlier, another suspect appeared in the Dundee Magistrate's Court. The 25-year-old accused was not asked to plead and the case was postponed to 9 February.

The South African Press Associated reported that Nkwanyana and the second suspect were arrested Wednesday. No other suspects have been arrested in Rattray's death.