Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission next week will hear five amnesty applications from the African National Congress operatives.
They are Kehedamile Tinyane, who committed robbery on May 30 1993 at Khuma Location in Stilfontein wherein a firearm was robbed from Samuel Khondo. Tinyane who claims to be a member of the ANC Youth League at the time said they were in a campaign of disarming the police.
Also appearing before the amnesty committee are Obed Salukwanda Madontsela and Lawrence Bongani Mahlangu both members of the Umkhonto We Sizwe. They are seeking amnesty for bombing tembisa administration offices. The two applicants were part of a MK unit who were specifically ordered to conduct armed operations in Tembisa as a response to police brutality and the apartheid sponsored local elections.
They were convicted and sentenced for bombings: attempted murder and possession of firearms and ammunitions. The applicants claimed to have been ordered by the high command structure of MK in Botswana. Another amnesty applicant will be Nco Ignitius Phahlane a former deputy president of Vaal Youth Congress. Phahlane in 1989 said the ANC leadership in Sharpville decided to arm the communities as to defend themselves. He was part of a group that attack Sharpville police station on January 1 1989. Policemen were injured during that attack.
Also applying for amnesty is Samuel Mofolane Hlope who was a commander of Self Defence Unit on the East Rand. Hlope maintained that the community was constantly under attack by Inkatha Freedom Party from the hostels and the third force.
Hlope's unit took part in the SDU's activities and they attacked hostels by throwing two rockets. The applicants do no know if any of the hostel dwellers died or got injured. The hearing will be held at GISS Centre, Mayfair Johannesburg.
Nosisi Tyantsi 0824588459 18 November 1999