Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
13 NOVEMBER 1998
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will hear next week amnesty applications from African National Congress and Afrikaner Weerstandsbewiging (AWB) members relating to the killing of policemen and a spate of bomb blast in separate incidents in the Free State shortly before the 1994 elections.
The hearing will take place at Welkom from Monday next week to Friday November 20.
Three Qwaqwa policemen Mokete Benjamin Makau, Tselane Jacobina Mosebi and Hadibonoe Peacock Tsosane were killed and a civilian Refiloe Anastacia Mondwene wounded in two separate incidents at Phuthaditjhaba between May and June 1993. In both incidents the policemen were ambushed and dispossessed of their service firearms.
Phillip Mosia, Jack Mofokeng, Isaac Mohomane, Solomon Sera and Molahleki Patrick Motlokoa all claiming to be members of the ANC are seeking amnesty for the incidents. They are serving prison terms ranging from 18 years to life imprisonment.
In another incident, a policeman Lourens Cornelius Oosthuizen was killed and five other policemen wounded in a shoot-out with gunmen at a roadblock on the road between Bethlehem and Ficksburg. Hermanus Johannes Joubert, Bruce Rutherford Collie, Abraham Christoffel, Naude Coetzee and Henry Sidney Chris Nortjie were injured. Two gunmen identified as Sebenzile and McGregor were also killed while their accomplice managed to escape unscathed. They were later arrested near Ficksburg after police gave chase.
Mandla Wellington Fokazi, Thozamile Clement Ndabeni, Stephen Donald Makhura, Fusi Simon Mofokeng and Tshokolo Joseph Mokoena are applying for amnesty for this incident. They claim in that amnesty applications that they were transporting arms cache to Escourt in KwaZulu/Natal to defend ANC supporters against Inkatha Freedom Party members.
In a separate incident, four other AWB members Andries Stefanus Kriel, Jan Cornelius Labuschagne, Johannes Jacobus Roos Botes and Daniel Wilhelm van der Watt are seeking amnesty for bombing railway lines, electrical installation and business buildings in various towns such as Bothaville, Wesselsbron, Orkney, Hoofstad, Stilfontein, Kroonstad, Welkom, Leeudoringstad and Potchefstroon September 1993 and February 1994.
The applicants were not charged pending the outcome of their amnesty applications.
Other AWB members Pieter Breytenbach and De wet Johann Strydom are seeking amnesty for a range of incidents including sabotage, murder and unlawful possession of arms and ammunition. Breytenbach and Strydom planted a bomb at a taxi rank in Bultfontein killing a cyclist Mr Kleinbooi Ramolla in February 1994. They also bombed SABC TV and radio transmitters, schools, trading and liquor stores as well as surgery owned by people they perceived to be sympathetic to the ANC. No one was injured in other blasts.
Mr Justice Hassen Mall will chair the hearing at Thabong Community Centre, Constantia Road, Thabong, Welkom.
Media inquiries: Vuyani Green, 082 452 7858