Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
October 12, 1996
STATEMENT FROM THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is to hear applications for amnesty from five former Security Branch officers at a hearing in Johannesburg starting on October 21.
The five officers were attached to the Northern Transvaal branch of the Security Police between 1986 and 1989. The most senior, Brigadier Jack Cronje, was the former Commander of the Vlakplaas base between 1983 and 1985.
The other applicants will be: Colonel Roelf Venter (who was also based at Vlakplaas in 1984 and 1985 at the same time as Eugene de Kock); Captain Wouter Mentz (also based at Vlakplaas from 1989 to 1992); Captain Jacques Hechter; and Warrant Officer Paul van Vuuren.
The Commission, which has been discussing the scheduling of the application with the applicants' attorneys for some weeks, is expecting the formal application to be handed in on Monday.
However, we are informed that they will apply for amnesty for incidents involving about 40 deaths, including the deaths of 18 people from Mamelodi in two separate incidents.
Other incidents in which they were involved - or have knowledge of - include the fate of the PEBCO Three, the killing of Dr Fabian Ribeiro, the killing of KwaNdebele Cabinet Minister Mr Piet Ntuli and the deaths of Mr Jeffrey Sibiya and Mr Harold Sofola.
Bombings, petrol bombings, weapons smuggling and the supply of booby-trapped handgrenades are among other activities which we expect to be dealt with in the amnesty application.
(ADVISORY NOTE: Archbishop Tutu and Dr Boraine will be with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher from 10h45 to 11h15 today, Saturday, at the American Embassy in Bishopscourt, Cape Town. They are prepared to speak to the press on this announcement AFTERWARDS, once Secretary Christopher has moved to his next appointment. The U.S. Embassy asks media to be there by 10 am.)
Inquiries: John Allen, 082- 452-7859