March 17 2000
Amnesty Decision By The Truth and Reconciliation Commission The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission today granted amnesty to six members of the security police who were involved in the killing of Umkhonto WeSizwe operative, Mbova Mzimela also known as Dion Cele in July 1989.
The six are Jeremias Brooks, Hendrik Botha, Jacobus Voster, Laurence Wasserman, Frans Labuschagne and Anton Verwey. The applicants applied for amnesty for their participation in the kidnapping and death of Cele.
Cele was a trained MK soldier who worked in Manzini area of Swaziland. The South African security police had information that he was part of the " Natal Machinery of the ANC " responsible for smuggling arms into the country as well explosives inside the country.
During a hearing in Durban in August 1999 the applicants told the Committee that when Cele was abducted and arrested by the security police, he was asked to work for the police and he refused. Fearing that the release of Cele would cause an embarrassment to the then government, it was decided that Cele should be eliminated.
The Committee found that the six applicants met the requirements of the act that of full disclosure and that their actions had a political motive. The Committee further referred the next of kin of the deceased to the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee for consideration.
Meanwhile a member of the Inkatha Freedom Party, Agrippa Thulebowa Mzobe was refused amnesty by the Amnesty Committee. Mzobe applied for amnesty for the murder of Samuel Ndlovela, and Brain Bazley, attempted murder of Mfanelo Zulu, Dumisani Yinda, Mbulelo Sebenza in April 1993.
The incident happened during the conflict between IFP and the African National Congress in the district of Port Sherpstone in KwaZulu Natal. The Committee found that Sebenza did not make full disclosure of all relevant facts.
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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