TRC APPEALS TO ROBBERY VICTIMS

Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission

October 22, 1998

The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is appealing to the victims of three robberies in Parktown North, Johannesburg, Randfontein and Elsburg Gold mine, to contact the Commission regarding forthcoming amnesty hearings.

Applicants declaring allegiance to the Pan Africanist Congress are applying for amnesty for the robberies, during which three people were murdered.

Victims and the relatives of those killed have the right to attend hearings and to lead evidence at hearings arising out of the following incidents:

• Two applicants are applying for amnesty for murder and robbery arising out of an attack at a Randfontein corner fruit shop and supermarket on April 16, 1994. The shop owner, Mr. Joao Mauel Jardim, was shot dead. At the time of his death he and Mrs Lucia Abry Jardim lived at 63 Tier Street, Green Hills, Randfontein. Mrs Jardim sold the shop shortly afterwards and moved. Amnesty committee staff have been unable to trace her.

They are also seeking to trace a relative, Mr Jose Gil Jardim, who lived at 109 Hans Strydom Street, Pongola in 1994.

• Another two applicants are applying for amnesty for murder and robbery arising out of an attack on the Jacobs family in Parktown North, also on April 16, 1994. During the robbery Mr Diederick Jacobs was fatally shot. The last known address of the Jacobs was Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg.

The hearings arising out of these killings and robberies will take place on November 5 and 6.

• On November 18, there will be an amnesty hearing arising out of an attack on November 16, 1990, during which the applicant and two others walked into the Westonaria Cafe on the Elsburg Gold Mine. They shot dead Mr Francisco Goncalves de Sousa, injured his business partner, Mr Joao Jardin, and fled with R3,000. Ownership of the shop has since been transferred, making it difficult to trace the whereabouts of both Mr Jardim and the family of the late Mr de Sousa.

Victims, relatives or any person who knows the families are asked to contact Ms Lulama Mtanga at the Amnesty Committee in Cape Town, telephone (021) 424-5161.