Issued by Truth and Reconcilliation Commission
Three members of the African National Congress today were granted amnesty for the killing of two IFP members and attempted murders near Malukazi and at Mguqule area of Ezinqolweni in and around Durban in 1991 and 1993.
Granted amnesty by the Amnesty Committee are Tembani Ngcobo, Phazamani Ncishane and Mlungisi Kumalo. The applicants testified that in the 1990's the respective areas were engulfed by political violence arising from a political conflict between the ANC and IFP in their quest for political turf. The Amnesty Committee found that there was no evidence to the contrary and that there were no political conflicts between the IFP and ANC, nor that the applicants were not members of the ANC.
The committee referred that relatives of the deceased, Amos Cele, Samson Mavundla and Mhekabantu Cele to the Reparations and Rehabilitation Committee. Another panel also granted amnesty to Peter Maluleka, a former MK member for planting an explosive that caused damage to the Van Asweger's store building and other buildings in the vicinity.
Maluleka in his application said that he was carrying out an order by his MK commander. The explosion was intended to make a political statement of the ANC's presence in the country. The committee found that Maluleka made full disclosure and was able to show a political motive.
Also granted amnesty for defeating ends of justice and perjury are Takalani Nesamri, Gabriel Ramushwana, Phumula Managa, Ledwick Ramamligela and Carlson Netshivale from Venda. The applicants are all former Security Police of Venda Homeland. They applied for amnesty for taking part in the assaults and torture of now Northen Province MEC of transport, Tshenuwani Simon Farisani and various other suspects and defeating ends of justice. The committee found that the applicants made full disclosure of all relevant facts.
The committee further refused amnesty to Nesamari, Managa, Ramamligela for assaults and torture of Farisani, Mbulaneni Phosiwa and Jon Ravele.
Ramushwana and Netshivhale were granted amnesty for the assaults and their participation in the torture of Tshifniwa Tshikororo and Petrus Phaswana. The assaults on detainees took place in Venda in 1982. The application relates to incidents that occurred in Venda involving the torture of several persons following an attack on the Sibasa Police Station in 1981, in which two policemen were killed.
August 2, 1999