4 May 2000, 2000
Media Advisory
The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission next week will hear amnesty applications from six Pan Africanist Congress members and a former South African Security Policeman from the Eastern Cape.
The hearing will be held at ETC Conference Centre in Port Elizabeth starting May 8 -12, 2000. Mpathiswa Malunga a former security policeman from East London is applying for amnesty for the torture and assault of an ANC MPL Joe Thethinene Jordan.
Jordan a United Democratic Front activist at the time was detained by the security police who were looking for the Minister of Safety and Security, Steve Tshwete. According to the applicant, Jordan was assaulted with a stick on his bare feet and electric shocks were applied on unspecified parts of his body.
Malunga further states that he tortured Jordan in execution of his duties as an investigating officer of the South African Police. This act of gross violation of human rights was committed on Jordan at Duncan Village police station where he was being held in March 1985.
Also applying for amnesty is Nkoliseko Mbangi a PAC member. Mbangi seeks amnesty for the murder of Samuel Barnard at Hopedale farm in Uitenhage on November 26 1992.
The applicant who is serving twelve years imprisonment is alleged to have assaulted Mr Petrus Barnard as well in the same farm. Another PAC member Zamikhaya Mgandela is also applying for amnesty for robbing Pick Fit and took R10 000 at gun point.
Sithembiso Vanana a member of APLA is applying for amnesty for a robbery, attempted murder and murder which took place in Saradale farm in Dodrecht on August 1, 1993. Vanana and his group claimed they were looking for money and firearms.
Two other PAC members Mnyamezeli Dingani and Lulamile Baleka are also applying ! amnesty for armed robbery of Nedbank in Uitenhage. The applicants claimed that they robbed the bank for the purpose of fund raising in support of APLA cadres.
Another PAC member Mziwawo Dlamini seeks amnesty for armed robbery, theft and murder. Dlamini and his group claimed that they robbed an Engineering company at Korsten in Port Elizabeth in 1991. The applicant took an amount of R 109 92. 00 and five firearms.
Dlamini is serving fifteen years imprisonment.
Phila Ngqumba 021 - 4238741 or 4245161
4 May 2000
THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
Media Advisory
The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission next week will hear amnesty applications from thirty four people who are applying for the murder of twenty six people from Venda in the Northern Province.
The hearing will be held at the Old Parliament Building in Thohoyandou from May 8 to 19. The applicants are serving long term sentences ranging from eight to twenty three years for the attacks committed in 1990.
A total of about twenty six persons in respect of whose murder amnesty is sought, lost their lives. Most of the attacks were committed by applicants in mobs or gangs and the victims would be assaulted and burnt to death.
Applicants, all of whom claim to have been members or supporters of the ANC at the time, seek amnesty in respect of a number of offences ranging from assaults, arson, attempted murder and murder.
The applicants claimed that they perceived the victims as persons who were practising witchcraft in their area and in doing so, working hand in hand with politicians of the Venda government to strengthen and keep them in power.
They further claim that by attacking the alleged wizards and witches they wanted to destabilise the Venda government and thus render it ungovernable.
Victims were killed, some injured when attempts were made on their lives and their homesteads were burnt by the applicants.
Phila Ngqumba 021 4238471 or 4245161
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission