29 July 1997 STATEMENT BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION ON AMNESTY HEARINGS IN PIETERMARITZBURG The Amnesty Committee of the TRC announced it will recommend as a matter of urgency that amnesty be granted to four people who appeared before it in Pietermaritzburg today. The four applicants are: Sipho Motaung (33), Nhlanhla Sibisi (30), Johannes Sithole (45) and Philemon Dlamini (45). All four asked amnesty in respect of an IFP member - Arnold Lolo Lombo from Edendale - on 31 October 1990, which they maintain was done under orders in fighting between UDF/ANC groups and an IFP warlord. The applicants maintain that they were field workers for the UDF/ANC structures and some MK soldiers in the Pietermaritzburg/Edendale area at the time. Presiding chairperson of the Amnesty Committee, Judge Andrew Wilson, said the recommendation to grant amnesty to the four will be done for a variety of reasons. These include that they had a clear political motive, followed clear political orders and none of the victim's families opposed the applications. In addition, the four are awaiting trial in the Kwazulu-Natal Supreme Court and the case has been postponed several times in lieu of their amnesty hearing. The attorney-general will now be advised that there is little point to keep the case on the role. Two applicants, Mandlenkose Phoswa (49) and Mafuka Anthony Nzimande (27) will be heard in Pietermaritzburg tomorrow, Wednesday, July 30. Phoswa asks for amnesty in relation to the murder of IFP members alleged of killing his son during September 1992 at Kwa Gengeshe near Richmond. Altogether nine people were killed in the fighting that broke out, while 52 houses were burned the next dayonsible for the killing of one Mu Ntolo only. Nzimande is applying for amnesty in respect of murder during the same incident. On Thursday, July 31, the application of Dumisani Mthembu (34) will serve before the Committee. He claims to have been an ANC member when he was arrested for two counts of attempted murder and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition during September 1992 at Sundumbile township, Mandini. A member of the South African Police was injured in the incident, which the applicant claims was done to protect a Natal chairperson of Cosatu of an assassination attempt. Mthembu says he was charged by the organisation to guard the chairperson The application of Bheki Fred Mbuyazi (26) will be heard on the Friday. He describes himself as an "ordinary ANC member" at the time of three murders and assault in the Ingtwavuma district. Mbuyazi applied for the murder which he said he committed at the time of a third attempt on his life while he was living in a so-called IFP stronghold. The murders were committed during September 1990. The hearings take place at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall and start at 10h00 am daily.
For more information please call Mdu Lembede at 0824588461.