Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
10 December 1999
AMNESTY DECISION
The Amnesty Committee of the Truth and Reconcilation Commission this week granted amnesty to IFP's Phumlani Derrick Mwell (25) for murders and attempted murders he committed in Mbali, Pietermaritzburg, between 1988 and 1989. Mweli, who was then 14 years old, committed seven murders on United Democratic Front (UDF) members in a space of four months. He is currently serving a total of 32 years jail term.
Another IFP member, Goodman Musawakhe Ngcobo, was this week granted amnesty for a series of murders and attempted murders he committed in the district of Ezongolweni in KwaZulu Natal between 1990 and 1992. Ngcobo was sentenced to death by the Natal division of the Supreme Court in 1993 for killing 10 people, attempting to kill four others and the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Sandile Msongelwa of the Azanian Peoples Liberation Army was also this week granted amnesty for murder, escape from custody and unlawful possession of a firearm. The Eastern Cape born Msongelwa was granted amnesty for two murders and two prison escapes, save for the escape he committed in 1997.
Sikhulu Patrick Hlengwa was granted amnesty this week by the TRC's Amnesty Committee for the 1991 murder of Hlakanlpha John Mbeko. Hlengwa, a member of the ANC, was imprisoned for 15 years for the murder he committed in Umgababa, south of Durban.
Sibandiso John Nkuma was granted amnesty this week for the 1986 murder of Samuel Amos Mpapane (Mbango).
Mandlakayise Joseph Mkhize got his amnesty this week in respect of 10 attempted murder charges, unlawful possessions of firearms and ammunition and the contravention of the Explosives Act.
Sipho Peter Blose was also granted amnesty for his role in the 1987 murder in Soweto of Thomas Mothobi, a former bodyguard of the late ANC leader Oliver Tambo.
Madumetsa Frans Ranoto got his amnesty this week in respect of charges of high treason, attempted murder, malicious damage to property and illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
Amnesty was also granted to a former KwaZulu Natal policeman Jonas Juda Mdluli (39) for crimes committed in 1990. Mdluli who was sentenced in 1992, is currently serving an 18 year jail term for murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. This is a sequel to his role in the murder and robbery attack of a security van that was escorting a pension team in Mdwedwe, north-east Durban.
He and four others shot and killed two policemen, Samuel Sipho Hlongwane and Ngqongqoshe Jerome Khuzwayo and attempted to kill another policeman, Christopher Ngcobo as well as a pensioner, Zeblon Dube.
Mdluli, who claimed to be an ANC supporter during his application, said he wanted to rob the policemen of their firearms and hand them over to other ANC supporters in the area to defend themselves against the IFP.
The Amnesty Committee found no indication that Mdluli was an ANC supporter and found it highly improbable that his actions were politically motivated.
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