Issued by: Office of the President
5 August 1999
Statement from Rev. Frank Chikane on the granting of amnesty by the TRC to Eugene de Kock and Adriaan Vlok for the 1988 bombing of Khotso House, headquarters of the South African Council of Churches.
In response to numerous requests from the media for Rev. Frank Chikane to comment in his capacity as the then president of the South African Council of churches, on the amnesty granted to Eugene de Kock and Adriaan Vlok for the bombing of Khotso house in 1988, the reverend would like to put the following on record:
"The bombing of Khotso House was an abominable action in defence of a crime against humanity and a heresy.
The act of the bombing, like the system of apartheid itself, cannot be justified and will always remain repugnant.
After the bombing, several discussions were held with the then National Party government, which always denied the involvement of state security forces. Yet there was never any doubt as to who the perpetrators of the dastardly deed were.
This heinous deed did not break the spirit of the church. Rather it generated a new determination and resolve to carry out its mission to minister to the poor and the oppressed.
Indeed the struggle for peace, freedom and justice shall forever triumph against the forces of darkness and oppression.
The TRC was an instrument set up by ourselves to reconcile South Africans and to build a new nation. In this context, I respect and abide by the decision of the TRC amnesty committee as part of efforts to bring about peace and reconciliation among all South Africans, in the hope that never again will such a deed be committed."
Contact: Ronnie Mamoepa - 082 990 4853.