July 20 1999
Issued by TRC
Twenty two former security policemen, including Vlakplaas Commander Eugene De Kock, are to appear in two different sets of amnesty applications due to be heard in Durban next week.
The amnesty applications relate to two separate ambushes and killing of MK members following their infiltration by police in Swaziland and their subsequent murder at Piet Retief from 8 to 12 June, 1988. The hearings are to be heard at the Durban Christian Centre as from July 26, 1999.
In the first incident of June 8, Eugene De Kock states that he was asked by the Piet Retief security police to assist them with an operation concerning trained ANC members infiltrating the country from Swaziland.
At this stage, the Piet Retief security police had infiltrated the MK's network and movements of people to and from Swaziland. A driver, Lieutenant Moshe (deceased) who was a Vlakplaas operative, picked up 4 MK members and drove them to a pre-arranged spot where the ambush would take place. The occupants, Lenny Naidu, Lindiwe Mthembu aka, Nontlantla Magagula, Makhosi Nyoka and Nontisikelelo Cothoza were killed.
Applicants in this matter are, Eugene De Kock, Leon Flores, Marthinus Ras, Jury Hayes, Flip Theron, Gerrie Barnard and Frederick Pienaar. Also implicated are Leonard Gwebu, Christo Deetleefs, Roelf Venter, Brigadier Willem Schoon and Adriaan Vlok.
In the second incident of June 12, Eugene De Kock, Frederik Pienaar, Marthinus Ras, Johan Tait, Paul Van Dyk, Cornelius Botha, Christo Deetleefs, James van Zweel, Jury Hayes, Gerrie Barnard, Flip Theron, Chris Rorich, Leon Flores, Nicholaas Vermeulen and Willem Nortjie have applied for their role in the killing of 4 ANC members who were from Swaziland. A fifth person, Bongani Emmanuel Gaga was killed on Swaziland side of the border by Tait, Van Dyk, Ras and Botha on the same date.
Following the first incident, De Kock states that he was again asked by the Piet Retief Security Branch to assist in an operation dealing with a second group of MK members led by Charles Ndaba. As in the first incident, an E20 kombi was dispatched by police to pick-up Mk members who were ambushed. Boxer Mthembu, Jabulani Sibisi, Sifiso Nxumalo and Innocent Nkosinathi Thenjwayo were killed. Bongani Emmanuel Gaga was killed on the Swaziland border on the same date.
Persons implicated in this matter include, Adriaan Vlok, Sgt. Manzini, Johannes Combrink, Jury Hayes, Krappies Engelbrecht and Brigadier Willem Schoon.