Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
October 16, 1996
STATEMENT BY DR ALEX BORAINE, VICE CHAIRPERSON OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission is engaged in urgent discussions to allow warrants of arrest to be served on two of five former Security policemen who are applying for amnesty, while ensuring at the same time that the hearing of their amnesty application goes ahead next week.
The five applicants were given temporary protection yesterday pending a decision on whether they are eligible for the Commission's witness protection programme. Admission to the programme depends on the Commission's assessment of whether their security is threatened.
The Commission is surprised at the decision of Attorney-General Dr Jan D'Oliveira to issue warrants of arrest a few days before the amnesty applicants are due to appear. However, we will not obstruct justice by interfering in the service of warrants of arrest. At the same time, we are determined that the amnesty application next week should go ahead.
After discussions with Dr D'Oliveira, we are confident that although two of the applicants may be charged in court this week, they will be available to the Amnesty Committee for next week's hearing.
The Commission respects the work with which the Attorneys-General are charged and we reiterate that we will not do anything to obstruct the course of justice. However, the Commission is an independent body and we also have a mandate given to us by Parliament which we are bound to implement.
In particular, we are determined to keep faith with those who have applied for amnesty and to ensure that they appear before the Amnesty Committee on October 21 as arranged.
Inquiries: John Allen. 082- 452-7859