Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission today has granted amnesty to a former African National Congress-aligned self defence unit member Jeremia Mbongeni Mabuza for incidents ranging from murder, arson to illegal possession of a large quantity of weapons and several rounds of ammunition in the political violence riven East Rand shortly before 1994 general elections.
These include, among others, launching an attack on Inkatha Freedom Party -aligned Mshayazafe Hostel dwellers in Thokoza, East Rand in April 1994, illegal possession of a large quantity of weapons such as AK 47, R4 rifle, pistols and revolvers and several rounds of ammunition.
Mabuza was also part of a group of SDU members who went amok at the height of political upheavals in the area setting ablaze houses belonging to suspected IFP supporters in Ngema Section Katlehong and later derailed a train ferrying commuters from Germistone to Kwesine Station and doused two couches with petrol before setting them alight. Mabuze was never charged for the incidents.
Delivering its verdict, the Amnesty Committee said it was satisfied that : "there was no personal malice or ill will in the actions that Mabuze took against the opponents of the Katlehong Community nor did he gain personally from any of these actions.''
It added that Mabuze had disclosed all facts relating to the incidents and that the incidents were politically motivated in the context of the violence which had engulfed East Rand townships shortly before the 1994 general elections.
Inquiries : Vuyani Green, media officer : 082 452 7858
10 March 1999