Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
8 JULY 1998
The amnesty applications of four African National Congress members relating to a spate of bombing in and around Johannesburg in 1987 will be heard in Johannesburg early next month.
Joseph Koetle, Solly Zacharia Shoke, William Mabele and Dick Joseph Hlongwane are applying for amnesty in respect of separate but related incidents of bombings and which occurred in and around Johannesburg in 1987.
Koetle, now a senior officer in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and William for a car bomb which exploded in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court killing four policemen and wounding others.
The policemen killed were Constables Weyers Ivor Botha, Kobus Wilkens, T.J Duvenhage and Christofell Botha. Constables William Kutwana, Frederick Wilhelm Ernst and Detective-Sergeant M.S Mallo together with a minor were wounded. Several buildings and vehicles were damaged.
Koetle claimed in his amnesty applications that the order to bomb the court was given by the then MK (ANC's disbanded armed wing) commander in the Transvaal and now Chief of the SANDF General Siphiwe Nyanda.
The second applicant Solly Zacharia Shoke, now a senior officer in the army is applying for amnesty for launching a spate of attacks on police stations in Moroko, Orlando, Booysens, Mabopane, Daveyton and for landmine explosions in the Northern Province between 1978 and 1980
Dick Joseph Hlongwane is applying for amnesty for the bombing of the Ellis Park Sports Arena in 1987. Several vehicles were damaged in the attack.
In terms of the Act governing TRC operations victims and their next of kin have a right to attend, adduce evidence and be legally represented. For more details, victims can contact Messrs Phumzo Tofile on 083 456 2596, Paddy Prior on 082 451 3276 or Mark Killian on 082 457 6084.
The hearing will take place at the Johannesburg Institute of Social Services, Corner of Queens Road & Battery Street, Mayfair, Johannesburg at 9am on August 3 to 7.
Amnesty applications relating to the land mine attacks in the Eastern Transvaal between 1986 and 1988 will be heard in Nelspruit on August 11 to 14 at a venue to be announced.
Inquiries : Phila Ngqumba 082 458 8463 Mbulelo Sompetha 082 452 7870