Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
08 April 1998
Amnesty Hearing: Azapo and Soweto Students Congress clashes
Venue: Gauteng Legislature Auditorium
Three Black Conciousness members from Soweto who have applied for amnesty will appear before the Committee on the 20 and 21 April, 1998.
The applicants, Joseph Hlasa, Anastasios Mphoreng and Ernest Thandakubona are asking for amnesty in respect of the killing of Soweto Students Congress members and a white security guard in 1986.
The first part of the application to be heard, relates to the killing of a white security officer in July 1986. The applicants claim they acted on orders of the late Azapo leaders, Thami Mcerwa of Dlamini and Sam Seema of Diepkloof. Mcerwa and Seema were leaders of Azapo in Soweto at the time.
The second part of the application deals with the abducting and killing of students belonging to the Soweto Student Congress (Sosco) following the burning of Jefferson Lengane's house at Orlando West. Subsequently, Edwin Vuyani Nkomo, Mbulelo Mabena, Msilana Ronnel Sishange and Oscar Amos Mlangeni were abducted tortured and killed. The youths were allegedly taken to Lengane's house by the applicants for questioning and to Chiawelo, where an order was given that they should be shot and killed.
Simon Morris and Sekano Avonly Kgase, who were also abducted, survived the attack. Kgase alerted the police, who later arrested and charged the applicants.
The hearing will be held at the Gauteng Legislature Auditorium at the corner of President and Loveday Streets.
Robin Brink will be the evidence leader during the hearing. For more information call Mbulelo Sompetha at 082-452-7870.