4 September 2000
The hearings into the mid eighties amnesty application by twelve former members of the ANC's army, Umkhonto We Sizwe are currently underway in Durban September 04 for sixteen acts terrorism in and around Durban between 1984 and 1985.
The hearings are being held at the Durban Christian Centre, cnr Warwick and Berea.
The attacks were part of "Operation Butterfly" operation whose rear base was Swaziland and was launching guerrilla activities against apartheid targets in the then Natal.
Applicant, Vejanand Ramalakan who was Mk's Chief of Intelligence in Swaziland, was also a member of the Military Intelligence desk in Lusaka between 1985 and 1990. Among the acts he is applying for, is his involvement in an attack on the house of Amichand Rajbansi on August 4 1985.
Other applicants with Ramlakan are Sibongiseni Dlomo, Ordway Msomi, Buthelezi Mbongwa, Richard Valihu, David Madurai, Jude Francis, Derek Naidoo, Dhanpal Naidoo and Thuso Tshika. Sibusiso Mbongwa and Raymond Lalla.
Among the acts the applicants are applying for, is a bomb attack on Spar Foodline in Durban April 18 1985, Port Natal Admin Board Offices at Lamontville June 16 1985, Umlazi KwaZulu-Natal Police Station at Lamontville June 18 1985, Bombing of Durban Beachfront XL T-Room June 19 1985, Umlazi Bakery sabotage July 31 1985, DBN OK Bazaar West Street September 27 1985, Limpet Mine explosion at Game Discount World September 27 1985, Spar Foodliner West Street Durban September 27 1985, Checkers Smith Street Durban September 1985, attack on Executive Hotel Umlazi September 1985, Grosvenor Girl's School explosion October 24 1985, Mobeni Post Office bomb attack Dec 8 1985, VW Bomb explosion cnr Pine and Albert Streets Dec 21 1985, Amanzimtoti Bomb explosion December 13 1985, Chatworths magistrate's court.
The hearings are scheduled to start on Monday 4.
Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
For more information call Mbulelo Sompetha at 082 452 7870