Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission Former Vlakplaas commander Eugene De Kock and eleven other apartheid security policemen will appear before the TRC's Amnesty Committee next Monday for their role in the murder of eight UDF youth activists on the East Rand on June 25, 1985.
Dubbed the Zero-Zero Hour incident, the activists were killed when Joe Mamasela and another Vlakplaas Askari, Daniel Nkala supplied the activists with zero-timed grenades and limpet mines to blow themselves up. Seven other activists were seriously injured as a result of the blasts.
Mamasela who played a major role in the operation approached the youths under the false pretence of being an MK soldier sent by the ANC to train local activists.
The Zero-Zero Hour hearing forms part of the De Kock Cluster 2, which contains amnesty applications for the killing of Japie Maponya currently being heard at the Idasa Centre in Pretoria. Two other Piet Retief incidents in which De Kock is also an applicant and is part of the De Kock 2 Cluster, will be heard in Durban later this month.
According to some of the applicants, the operation Zero-Zero Hour was approved by cabinet ministers, including former State President, P W Botha.
The intention was to stem the tide of revolt and increasing politicisation of East Rand townships residents especially of Thokoza, Katlehong, Duduza, Daveyton, Kwathema and Vosloorus. The Duduza handgrenade incident, which led to the necklacing of Maki Skosana, provided Mr. PW Botha with potent propaganda material regarding the violent nature of opposition politics and provided legitimisation to declare the first State of Emergency on the eve of her death.
Applicants in the Operation Zero-Zero Hour operation include; General Johan Van Der Merwe, Brigadier Willem Schoon, Eugene De Kock, Daniel Nkala, Captain Roelf Venter, Marthinus Delpoort, Frnacois Steenkamp, Kobus Kok, Japie Kok, LCM Prince, Andre Roos and Wal Du Toit.
Implicated persons in the Zero-Zero incidents are; Sgt. Gert Kruger, Gene Joep Joebert, Ex-Minister Louis Le Grange (deceased), General Johan Coetzee, General Schutte, Brian Ngqulunga (deceased), Moses Nzimande (deceased), Eric Maluleka, PW Botha, Cornelius Beeslaar and Tebogo Michael Mathikinca.
The hearing will be heard at the Idasa Centre, Cnr Prinsloo and Visagie Street, Pretoria.
For more information please call:
Mbulelo Sompeta 0n 082 452 7870.
15 July 1999