Issued by: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will this month hear amnesty applications relating to various attempts by members of the former government's security forces to destabilise the Eastern Cape in the late 80s as well as applications arising out of two failed separate attempts to overthrow military regimes which ruled the province's former homelands of Transkei and Ciskei respectively.
The hearings will take place at the Catholic Centre, Queen's Street, Cambridge, East London from April 6 to April 30 at 9am.
Christofell Pierce "Joffel" van der Westhuizen and Johannes Ludewikus Griebenouw are seeking amnesty for their role in a military operation dubbed "Katzen" aimed at amalgamating the two former homelands into a "Xhosaland" to counteract the activities of the liberation movements. The operation culminated in the abduction of former Ciskei's president Lennox Sebe's son Kwane from a hotel in King William's town and a subsequent daring escape of Mr Lennox Sebe's estranged brother Charles from a maximum prison in Middledrift, Eastern Cape. The hearing will swing into action on Tuesday April 6 to Friday April 9 next week.
The Amnesty Committee will also hear an amnesty application relating to the abduction of a Transkei businessman Mr Vulindlela Mbotoli following a failed attempt to topple then Major General Bantu Holomisa's Transkei government by his former right hand man-turned rebel Colonel Craig Duli.
Mr Mbotoli was captured in Johannesburg by the homeland's intelligence agents drugged, bundled into a car and spirited away to Transkei to stand trial for his role in the abortive coup. Duli and his body guard Boetie Davies were killed when troops loyal to Holomisa crashed the coup in the late '80s.
An Austrian businessman, Rainer Maria Moringer is applying for amnesty for his role in the abduction of Mr Mbotoli. His application will be heard from Monday April 12 to Friday April 16. Mr Holomisa, now the leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) is among several people who have been duly notified by the Amnesty Committee about the hearing in line with the requirements of the TRC Act.
Former Vlakplaas commander and convicted murderer Eugene de kock, Willem Notjie, Marthinus Ras, Daniel Snyman, Nicholas Vermeulen Jan Anton Niewodt and Phumelele Gumengu are seeking amnesty for their role in arming Col Duli in the aborted coup. Their applications will be heard from Monday April 19 to Friday April 23.
Clive Brink and Anton Niewoudt are applying for amnesty for their role in the murder of Ciskei's Brigadier Oupa Gqozo's former right hand man turned rebel Onward Guzana and Brig Gqozo's fierce foe Charles Sebe at a roadblock on the road between Stutterheim and King William's town in January 1991.
Col Guzana died at the roadblock and Sebe was shot dead in execution the next day after they were lured into Ciskei from Transkei by military intellegince agents under the pretext that the former homeland's soldiers had staged an insurrection against the former Ciskei's strongman. The hearing is set down from Monday April 26 to Friday April 30.
According to the TRC law, victims, next of kin or any other interested party have the right to attend, adduce evidence and be legally represented at the hearings.
Media Inquiries : Vuyani Green, 082 452 7858
1 April 1999