Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
December 14, 1999
TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION AMNESTY DECISION
The Amnesty Committee today refused to grant amnesty to six former members of the Port Elizabeth security branch for the murder of Eastern Cape activists who came to be known as the Cradock Four.
The seventh applicant, former Vlakplaas commander Eugene De Kock, was granted amnesty in respect of defeating the ends of justice and any offence incidental thereto.
The four former United Democratic Front activists - Mathew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto and Sicelo Mhlauli - were killed near Port Elizabeth in June 1985.
The vehicle in which they were travelling was stopped and the deceased were kidnapped, taken to different secluded places where each was killed and their bodies burnt to varying degrees.
Those refused amnesty are Eric Alexandra Taylor, Gerhardus Johannes Lotz, Nicholas Jakobus Janse Van Rensburg, Harold Snyman, Johan martin "Sakkie" Van Zyl and Hermanus Barend Du Plessis.
Inquiries : Nhlanhla Mbatha 082 458 9968.