1 June 2000
The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission today has granted amnesty to former spy Craig Williamson and Roger Raven for their role in the murder of Ruth First on August 17 1982 in Maputo and conspiracy to kill Joe Slovo.
Williamson a Major in the Security Police and Raven his subordinate according to their evidence, they got permission from the Minister of Police through their superior Brigadier Piet Goosen to launch cross border attacks including the bombing of the London Headquarters of the ANC.
Williamson and Ravan were also granted amnesty for the conspiracy and murder of Jeanette and Katryn Schoon at Lubango in Angola on June 28 1984. The applicants were also granted amnesty for transporting an improvised explosive devices, interception of mail and possession of explosives.
Both these applications were opposed by the Slovo and Schoon families. The Schoons and Ruth First were at the time of their death involved in lecturing at universities in Maputo and Luanda. They were loyal and active supporters of the ANC.
The offences were meant to destabilise, demoralise and disadvantage the liberation forces. The Committee found that both applicants have made full disclosures and their acts were associated with a political objective. The next of kin of Ruth First, Jeanette and Katryn Schoon were referred to the Reparation and Rehabilitation Committee for consideration.
Also granted by the committee are Willem Schoon and John McPherson for their role in the attempted murder of Marius Schoon and Joe Slovo in 1982 and 1984 and the Lusaka bomb.
The bomb was prepared and built into a briefcase and was placed at the gates of the ANC offices in Lusaka by police agent. It exploded and caused minimal damage no deaths or injuries were reported. The intention was that the bomb should be left at the office occupied by Slovo.
Two other security police operatives Kobus Klopper and Johann Tait were granted amnesty for killing four alleged arms smugglers at Komatipoort, accessory after the fact to murder and defeating the ends of justice. The applications arise of an incident which occurred at Komatipoort when four arms smugglers were killed and weapons were intended for the military wings of ANC and PAC.
Another security police operative Micheal Bellingan was refused amnesty for theft of various cheques intended for National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa). Bellingan was also refused amnesty for murdering his wife Janine on September 20 1991.
As part of normal security police operation at the time, the mail of certain organisations including Numsa was intercepted and inspected. In the course of these operations during 1988 and 1989 a number of cheques drawn in favour of Numsa were intercepted.
With regard his wife Bellingan discovered that the deceased was not happy with Bellingan's work as a security policeman and he discovered she was about to leak some confidential information to the ANC. The applicant decided to kill her because she was a security risk.
The Committee in refusing Bellingan amnesty said it was not satisfied that he made full disclosure and that the murder constituted an act associated with a political objective.
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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