Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has withdrawn a subpoena requiring former Transkei President Kaiser Matanzima to testify before it in connection with the death of a former student of the University of the Transkei in 1985.
The decision follows an agreement between the Amnesty Committee and the family of the deceased. Mr. Bathandwa Ndondo, a cousin of TRC Commissioner Dumisa Ntsebeza, was shot dead by police at Cala on September 24, 1985. Weeks later Chief Matanzima is alleged to have made a public statement justifying the killing.
The Committee issued a subpoena calling upon Chief Matanzima to appear before it to answer questions relating to his alleged public statement regarding the incident. However, he failed to appear before the committee, citing ill-health. He later applied for a court order to set aside the committee's decision to force him to testify.
After considering the matter the amnesty committee, in consultation with the victim's family, has decided to withdraw the subpoena.
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