Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
29 April 1999
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will next week hear amnesty applications from thirteen former South African Security Branch members in connection with a spate of separate incidents ranging from kidnapping and killing of activists to petrol bombing of homes belonging to suspected activists in and around Pretoria in the 1980s.
Lieutenant-Colonel Jan Hatting Cronje, Captain Jacques Hechter, Captain Andre Roos, Captain Eric Goosen, Colonel Willem Johannes Momberg, Brigadier Gilles van de Wall, Sergeant Deon Gouws, Adjudant-Officer Adriann Stephanus Oosthuizen, Captain Jansen Van Jaarsveld, Warrant-Officer Paul Van Vuuren, Vlakplaas operative Sampina Hendrick Bokaba, Jacobus Venter and Hendrik Johannes Prinsloo are applying for amnesty for the incidents. Some have already appeared before the Amnesty Committee seeking amnesty for other incidents.
Mr Walter Ledwaba, Mr Andrew Makupe, Mr Jackson Maake, Harold Sefolo, and Sanna Puleng Letsie are among the people who were killed in separate attacks in which some of these policemen were involved. A number of houses were completely destroyed after being petrol bombed.
Former Vlakplaas operative Joe Mamasela is among people who have been duly notified as they are implicated in some of the incidents. According to the law governing the operations of the TRC, victims, their next of kin or any other interested party have the right to attend, adduce evidence and be legally represented at the hearing.
The hearing will be held at the Idasa centre, corner of Prinsloo and Visagie Street, Pretoria from Monday May 3 until May 21.
Media inquiries : Vuyani Green, media officer : 082 452 7858