Issued by: The Ministry for Safety and Security
MEDIA RELEASE ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF SAFETY AND SECURITY: OCTOBER 29, 1995.
AMANZIMTOTI CR 278/01/87: ARRAIGNMENT ON MURDER CHARGES
Following investigations conducted by the Investigation Task Unit (ITU) the Attorney-General of KwaZulu Natal has ordered the arraignment of the following persons on murder charges, relating to the killing of 13 persons in KwaMakhutha on 21 January 1987:
1. General Magnus Malan, former Minister of Defence. 2. General Jannie Geldenhuys, former Chief of the SADF. 3. Vice Admiral Dries Putter, former Chief of Staff of Intelligence. 4. General Neels Van Tonder, former Chief Director of Intelligence Operations. 5. General Kat Liebenberg, former Chief of the Army. 6. General Tieni Groenewald, former Chief Director of Military Intelligence. 7. Brigadier Cor Van Niekerk, former Direct of Special Tasks 2. 8. Commandant Jan Van der Merwe, former Security Officer, Military Intelligence. 9. Colonel Dan Griesel, former Operative, Military Intelligence. 10. Lt Col Johannes Victor, former Intelligence Officer, Natal Command. 11. Major Jakes Jacobs, former Instructor, Special Operations.
These individuals will be formally arrested by a team of detectives under the command of Colonel Frank Dutton from the ITU at the Durban Regional Court on Thursday morning. I have been advised that bail conditions have been agreed upon. Indictments relating to the alleged roles of the suspects in the establishment of an offensive para-military force for Inkatha, which was allegedly responsible for the attack in KwaMakhutha, will be served on the suspects in due course. Indictments will also be served on the 7 persons (Brig John More, Col Louis Botha, Mr M Z Khumalo, Peter Msane, Prince Mknize, Scelo Ndlovu and Martin Khanyile) already arrested in connection with the KwaMakhutha massacre.
The investigations have been ongoing for more than an year. As soon as the relevant docket was ready for consideration by the Attorney General, it was delivered to him. Once Mr Tim McNally had taken his decision to prosecute the abovenamed suspects, which was made on 26 October 1995, the ITU acted immediately and made contact with the legal representatives of the SANDF. The Attorney-General of KwaZulu-Natal had suggested that the suspects be arraigned in Court on Monday morning, 30 October 1995. However during discussions with lawyers for the SANDF, they requested more time to locate the suspects and facilitate their appearance in Court. It was decided to accommodate this request by moving the date of the Court Appearance to Thursday morning, 2nd November 1995. These decisions, as with all decisions relating to criminal investigations, were taken independently of the government.
THE KWAMAKHUTHA KILLINGS
On the night of 21 January 1987, gunmen armed with AK 47 rifles, attacked the home of UDF leader, Victor Ntuli, killing 13 unarmed civilians. The victims included children and women. They are:
Isabel Kubheka 45 Years Female Linda Edward Ndwelane 36 Years Male Jabu Ndlovu 17 Years Female Jabu Young Adult Female Nomusa Ndwalane 34 Years Female Phumele Ndlovu 22 Years Female William Ntuli 58 Years Male Nunu Sithembits Ntuli 7 Years Female Mbusa Thusini 6 Years Male Vikile Thusini 7 Years Male Phumzile Thusini 8 Years Male Sanele Thusini 4 Years Male Nomfunde Prudence Thusini 10 Years Female