Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission today has refused amnesty to three Inkatha Freedom Party and two African National Congress members serving lengthy prison terms for incidents ranging from murder to robbery respectively Thulani Sigudu, Thulani Mvelase and Samson Manqele, all claiming to be IFP members have been refused amnesty for the murder of Mrs Sarojinee Govender at Parktown North Shopping Centre, Johannesburg in December 1993. Mrs Govender, from Woodstock, Cape Town, was shot dead as she was leaving a bank at the shopping centre. Her assailants escaped with an undisclosed sum of money. The men told the Amnesty Committee this month that the money was used to procure weapons for the IFP members at Dube Hostel, Soweto. The men are serving prison terms ranging from 25 to 30 years at Leeuwkop Prison.
Rejecting their applications, the committee said they were evasive and not prepared to admit that they wanted to kill Mrs Govender. "All say that it was an accident that she was shot." The Committee also cast aspersion on the applicants motive for the killing saying their testimony raised serious doubt as to whether the murder was politically motivated."...the killing of the deceased was, according to them, an accident. In the circumstances, therefore, the death was not committed to further any political agenda," the committee ruled.
Also refused amnesty are two ANC members Stephen Moeketsi Monyake and Gift Sekitla Mohasa. Monyake stabbed to death Mr Tebo Molele of a "Three Million Gang" at Gelukwaarts, Kroonstad in May 1992. The Committee said it was not satisfied that the killing was associated with a political motive.
"Although the applicant denied that he acted under the influence of liquor, he admitted that he had been drinking for quite a considerable time." Mohase, who is serving 26 years imprisonment, has been refused amnesty for killing Mr Esrom Hapane and injuring Mr Casium David Gwele at Daveyton in December 1990. However, he was granted amnesty for, among others, the killing of Mr Albert Ntema at Gelukwaarts, Kroonstad in February 1991.
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