Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
3 February 1998
Six applicants are to appear before the Amnesty Committee during a five-day hearing at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall, in Kwazulu/Natal, starting on Monday February 9 to Friday, February 13.
The first two applicants Mr Mduduzi Gumbi and Mr Robert Vo Zuma - whose application was partly heard by the Committee and sub- sequently postponed in July last year - are both IFP members who were convicted of several counts of murder and attempted murder and sentenced to nine and twelve years imprisonment, respectively.
The two were part of a group of heavily armed IFP supporters who, on June 23 1991 indiscriminately attacked villages in Ndaleni and Magoda within the district of Richmond in the Natal Midlands, killing several people, including children. They have applied for amnesty on the grounds that the acts were committed with a political motive in the struggle between the IFP and the ANC.
The third applicant, Mr Dumisane Mthembu, whose matter was also partly heard by the Amnesty Committee last year, is applying for amnesty for the murder of two policemen in September 1992 in the Empangeni district and also for the illegal possession of a firearm an ammunition.
Mr Mthembu who alleges he was the bodyguard of top Cosatu official, Mr Vincent Shandu at the time, says he was awoken in the early hours of the morning by several shots being fired by unknown assailants at the home of Mr Shandu. Believing that his charge was under attack, he said he returned fire in the direction of the attack, adding that he only realised later that the assailants were infact policemen. Mr Mthembus criminal trial on this matter iesty application.
Three other applicants, Mr Bongani Malevu, Mr Walter Falibango Thanda and Mr Andile Shiceka have applied for amnesty for the murder of one person and the attempted murder of several others following their attack at the popular crazy beat disco in Newcastle, on the night of 14 February 1994.
Two of the applicants, Thanda and Shiceka say they are members of the PACs military wing, APLA and Malevu says he was an ordinary PAC member. The applicants say they attacked the disco because it was frequented by white patrons. On the night, they say they fired several shots at people inside through an entrance to the dance floor. Ms Salomina Gerbrecht van Wyk was struck by a bullet in the chest and died on the spot.
Judge Andrew Wilson will chair the Amnesty Committee panel sitting in Pietermaritzburg and Advocate Paddy Prior will be evidence leader.
For more information or for media accreditation please contact Mdu Lembede on 082 4588464