January 25, 2000
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission , Amnesty Committee today granted amnesty to an African National Congress operative, Neo Ignatius Phalane for attacking Sharpville police station on October 1 in 1989.
Umkhonto We Sizwe Unit attacked the police station and disarm and obtain weapons. The committee found that the acts of the applicants were associated with a political objective committed during the conflict of the past.
The committee was satisfied that Phalane has made full disclosure of all relevant facts. The victims who are policemen were referred to the Reperation and Rehabilitation Committee for consideration.
Also granted amnesty was Simon Bahlezi Mnyakeni for killing Absolom Mnyakeni and Patric Khumalo. The killing took place on March 21 in 1992 at Daveyton in Mandela Squatter Camp. Mnyakeni and members of the community attacked victims who were suspected of collaborating with the police. The Committee found that the applicant made full disclosure.
A member of the Western Cape riot unit police, Micheal Phillip Luff was refused amnesty for killing William Dyasi on November 4 in 1985 at Zwelethemba township in Worcester. Luff and his team fired shots at a group of people who were allegedly throwing stones at Zwelethemba community hall.
The application was opposed by the Dyasi family. The Committee was not satisfied that Luff's conduct in killing the deceased constituted an act associated with a political motive as required by the act. The applicant was clearly not acting in pursuit of any political objective.
Also refused amnesty was an ANC member Xola Thembinkosi Yekwana for killing an ANC activist Mziwonke 'Pro' Jack. Jack was killed by Yekwana on the night of June 19 in 1991 near Lansdowe road, Nyanga East in Cape Town.
Yekwana's application for amnesty was opposed by the family of the deceased. The applicant indicated that the attack upon Jack was a mistake and that he had known him and would never fired at him. Yekwana claimed that he fired shots at Jack because he was under impression that he was shooting at the police. The committee found that Yekwana had no reasonable grounds for believing that the vehicle of Jack was a police vehicle. The panel pointed out that Yekwana was not pursuing any political objective at the time when he fired the fatal shots at the deceased.
Phila Ngqumba - 082 458 8463.