27 July 2000
SUBJECT: JUNE 14 1985 BOTSWANA RAID
The Amnesty Committee of the TRC will on Monday July 31, consider twelve amnesty applicants who have applied for their roles in the killing of fourteen alleged ANC members in Gaborone - Botswana on June 14, 1985. Scores of other people were wounded in random shootings while the attackers were retreating.
The matters will be heard at the Wesley Methodist Church, corner Andries and Visagie Streets in Pretoria starting Monday July 31 - August 4, 2000.
The applicants, who were a combined force of Soweto Special Branch members as well as SADF Special Force members, entered Botswana using different vehicles two days before the attack in order to identify targets..
The applicants are Lodewyk de Jager, Johannes Meyer, Anton Pretorius, Willem Coetzee, Manuel Oliphant, Phillip Crause, Stanley Schutte, Christoffel Du Preez Smit, Wikus Johannes Loots Petrus Coetzee, John Mcpherson and Johannes Albertus Steyn.
Implicated persons are General Magnus Malan, Colonel Kallie Steyn, PW Botha, General Herman Stadler, General Johan Van Der Merwe, Pik Botha, Commander Charl Naude, General Johan Coetzee, General Constand Viljoen, Major Craig Williamson, General Kat Liebenberg (deceased), Col. Joe Verster, Col. Joubert, Col. Hill, Col. At Nel (Military Intelligence) and Minister Louis Le Grange (deceased).
The victims were Thami Mnyele, Michael Frank Hamlyn, Cecil George Phahle, Lindiwe Phahle, Joseph Malaza, Themba Duke Matshobane, Peter Masoke (age 6) Mkhulu Basil Zondi- wife and daugher shot and wounded, Busi Mokoena wounded in the thigh, Elina Mahlangu wounded now deceased, Somalian Ahmed Geer and Dutch wife seriously wounded, two Batswana women, Galdys Kesupile and Eugenia Kobole, two people were wounded at a roadblock, a white male was wounded in the leg and his black girlfriend was shot in the back.
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
For more information call Mbulelo Sompetha at 082 452 7870.