Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
December 14, 1999
THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION AMNESTY DECISION
The former Minister of Law and Order, Adriaan Vlok and 22 former members of the former security police were granted amnesty for their involvement in the 1987 bombing of the Cosatu House in Johannesburg.
Vlok, former chief of the security branch Johannes Velde Van der Merwe, former Vlakplaas commander Eugene De Kock, former Witwatersrand divisional commander of the security branch Nicholas Gerrit Erasmus, Willem Frederick Schoon, Deon Greyling and expert on explosives Charles Alfred Zeelie were part of the group that attacked the offices of the Congress of South African Trade Union on the night of the 6/7 in May, 1987.
The others were Izak Daniel Bosch, Marinus David Ras, Petrus Casparus Ras, Paul Jacobus Hatting, Wilhelm Riaan Bellingan, George Francious Hammond, Larry John Hanton, Pierre Le Roux, Frank McCarter, Willem Albertus Nortje, Douw Gerbrant Willemse, Peter Kimpani Mongoai, Johannes Christoffel Meyer, Dawid Jacobus Brits, Adrian David Baker and Nicolaas Johannes Vermuelen.
Although no one was killed in the bombing, extensive damage was caused to the building as well as the property inside.
In their amnesty applications the group said there was a revolutionary climate during that time and prohibited meetings to promote that climate that were held at Cosatu House.
After considering the facts before it, the Committee was therefore in a position to grant the group amnesty for malicious damage to the property known as Cosatu House in 1987, unlawful possession of arms and ammunition and defeating the ends of justice in covering up the cause of the bomb.
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