14 June 2000
STATEMENT BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMITTEE ON AMNESTY MATTERS FOR DURBAN NEXT WEEK JUNE 19 TO JUNE 30
The Amnesty Committee of the TRC will, from Monday June 19, to June 21, hear amnesty applications of Frank Burnetts, a former security policeman, for the torture of five United Democratic Front activists from Chesterville near Durban in 1986.
The victims of Burnettss' torture were, Cecil Khehla Nala, Olina Olivia Nxumalo, Loretta Mkhize, Theresa Thoko Mthembu and Duma Masikane.
Among other matters, Burnetts has also applied for the killing of a PAC member at Inanda in 1991 who had been identified by an Askari. He has also applied for his role in the framing of a particular individual as an informer in Chesterville who was later necklaced by the community.
From June 22, the Committee will hear a part-heard matter into the killing of an ANC underground Unit which involved Portia Ndwandwe who was abducted from Swaziland with the help of two ANC informers to Durban in 1986. She was shot and subsequently buried in a farm near Verulam when she refused to co-operate and inform on others.
The applicants are former head of the Intelligence in Durban, Hentie Botha, Albertus Steyn, Colonel Andy Taylor (now deceased), Roelof Visagie, Colonel JA Vorster, Louis Wasserman. During the last sitting in 1999, the Botha had been asked to reveal the identity of the informers to the Committee, which he still has to do.
Amnesty matters for the week starting June 24, will be announced in due course. The Amnesty Panel will consist of Judge Wilson, Advocate Sibongile Sigodi and Wynand Malan for the proccedings.
For more information, call Mbulelo Sompetha at 082 452 7870.