21 June 2000
AMNESTY DECISION BY THE TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION
The Amnesty Committee of Truth and Reconciliation Commission today granted amnesty to the former Minister of Police Adriaan Vlok and the former Commissioner of Police General Johannes Van Der Merwe and nine security policemen for their role for damaging by explosives, and making bomb scare at cinema theatres to prevent the film "Cry Freedom" from being screened.
These incidents took place at various places in South Africa. Different applicants were involved in different incidents at Kings Cinema Theatre in Alexandra, Johannesburg, Highgate Shopping centre theatre in Roodepoort, Pretoria and Metro 11 in Durban. The explosives and bomb scares happened in July 1988 to prevent the film.
The film dealt with the death of Steve Biko and with aspect of the life of Donald Woods, who later left the country. The South African Police were concern that it would increase racial tension and the revolutionary climate in the country.
Granted amnesty with the two are Petrus Du Toit, Nathys Botha, Johan Le Roux Johannes Steyn, Cornelius Heyneke, Johannes Louw, Abraham Kendall, Adries Van Heerden and Charles Zellie. Applicants who were part of the planning, ordering and execution of these acts testified that their conduct was motivated by the political unrest and violence which prevailed at the time in the country.
The Committee found that the applicants have met the requirements of the Act in that they made full disclosure of all relevant facts and the acts were associated with a political objective. Also granted amnesty are Schalk Visser, Christo Deetlets, Fredereick Pienaar and James Van Zweel all members of security police for the abduction and unlawful detention of Christopher Mosiane and others in Swaziland in April 1984.
The four policemen were also granted amnesty for leaving and entering Swaziland illegal. The Committee granted amnesty to Abel Chone an ANC commander for killing Thabo Makudubete in Vienna Angola and unlawful possession of AK47 and a hand grenade.
Happy Mngomezulu and Thulani Madlala both ANC members got amnesty for killing Mpumelelo Phewa in March 1994 at Wembezi in KwaZulu Natal.
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