Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
April 30, 1998
STATEMENT BY DR ALEX BORAINE, ACTING CHAIRPERSON, TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The African National Congress today withdrew its opposition to a Truth and Reconciliation Commission application asking the High Court to declare void amnesties granted to 37 ANC members.
The TRC's application has been set down for a hearing in the Cape High Court next Friday, May 8, when the Commission will also ask the court to order that the amnesty applications be referred back to the TRC's Amnesty Committee to be considered afresh.
The ANC's decision to withdraw its opposition to our court application opens the way to a speedy resolution of the matter. It enables us to approach the High Court a full three weeks ahead of the date agreed to between the National Party, which has brought a court application similar to the TRC's, and the ANC.
However, the National Party may still delay resolution of the matter - it has given notice that it wants to intervene in the TRC's court application against the ANC. In court papers, the NP alleges that the ANC applications for amnesty "are not capable of being considered afresh". As a result the NP is opposing that part of the TRC application which asks the court to refer the amnesty applications back to the Amnesty Committee for reconsideration.
The National Party will argue its case for the intervention when the TRC's application goes to court on May 8.
Inquiries: Dr Boraine; or John Allen, 082- 452-7859