Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
STATEMENT BY THE AMNESTY COMMITTEE OF THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Amnesty hearing into the murder of Ruth First - the wife of the late Communist Party leader Joe Slovo in Maputo, Mozambique and the attempted murder of Mr Marius Schoon in Botswana in the 1980s resumes in Pretoria tomorrow.
Former Brigadier Willem Schoon is seeking amnesty for the attempted murder of Mr Schoon in Botswana 1981. TRC media spokesman Vuyani Green said the Amnesty Committee has already heard an amnesty application by another former Vlakplaas commander, Dirk Coetzee, regarding the attempt to kill Mr Schoon.
Mr Schoon's wife Jeanette and her daughter Katryn were murdered in Angola in the 1980s. Brigadier Schoon's testimony will be the last by a former security police in a marathon amnesty hearing involving former high ranking security branch policemen including former Police Commissioner General Johan Coetzee, who was one of eight policemen seeking amnesty for the 1982 London bombing.
Advocate George Bozos, counsel for the victims, is expected to call this week to the witness stand several witnesses including Deputy Finance Minister Jill Marcus, Environmental Affairs Minister Pallo Jordaan and Transport Minister Marc Maharaj.
The hearing will take place at the Idasa Centre, corner of Prinsloo and Visagie streets, Pretoria from November 2 to 6.
Media inquiries: Vuyani Green, 082 452 7858.