TRC ON AMNESTY DECISIONS

Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission

28 April 1997

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission announces the granting of amnesty to three more applicants, two of them ANC members and one a former Progressive Federal Party (PFP) member. All three decisions were taken in chambers by the Amnesty Committee. Since the applications did not involve gross violations of human rights, as defined in the Act governing the Commission, public hearings were not necessary. Those granted amnesty are:

• Donald John Card (68), a former mayor of East London, who said he was a member of the Progressive Federal Party (PFP) when he committed two offences in 1977 for which he was never charged.. These were "assisting a person banned in terms of the Security Legislation to break his banning order", and "assisting the same person to leave the borders of South Africa in contravention of the law".

In his amnesty application he identifies the person assisted as Donald James Woods, and states the political objective sought to be achieved as "disagreed with the government's banning of Woods under the Suppression of Communism Act". He said he and Woods agreed on many issues, "including the death of Steve Biko who had become a friend". According to Card two other people helped with the escape.

• Thami Robert Ntshobane (23), who was convicted of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition during 1992 in Guguletu, Cape Town. He said the firearm belonged to his Self Defence Unit, set up and supplied by the ANC and Umkontho we Sizwe.
• Simon Orapeng Ntsitsi (35), who said he was an ANC marshal when four vehicles were damaged during a march in Kanana Township, Orkney during 1991. He was convicted on four counts of malicious damage to property.