Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission
January 17, 2001
A former head of the special operations of the African National Congress, Umkhonto We Sizwe (MK) and current head of policy formulation in the Reserve Bank, Aboobaker Ismail was today granted amnesty by the Amnesty Committee for fifty seven offences.
Granted amnesty with Ismail are Johannes Mnisi, Mohammaed Iqbal Shaik, Mohammed Abdulai Ismail, Colin Mark De Sousa, David Motshwane Moisi and Sipho Matthews Thobela. They all belonged to various units of the MK special operations throughout the country.
Ismail applied for amnesty for targeting strategic installations such as oil refineries, the Koeberg Nuclear plant, fuel pipelines and electrical power networks as well as military targets such as Voortrekkerhoogte and Wits Commando. However, with the increase of cross border raids attacks on civilians by the security forces the Special Operation Command decided to extend their range of targets to include security force personnel.
The Committee found that Ismail and seven applicants made full disclosure and that their actions during operations were acts committed with a political motive. Their offences were committed during the course of the conflict of the political past.
Ismail also applied for amnesty for all acts carried out by those under his command from June 1978 to September 1994 when he was the MK Chief of Ordnance. The Committee pointed out that it cannot grant amnesty in respect of operations which cannot be recalled and which have not been brought to its attention.
Also granted amnesty was Leon John Flores a former member of Unit C stationed at Vlakplaas under the command of Colonel Eugene De Kock. In the course of Flores official duties he was instructed to intimidate Mr Ivor Jenkins.
The applicant fired various shots at the house of Mr Jenkins in August 1989 in Pretoria. Mr Jenkins was a member of the Mass democratic Movement who was involved in campaigns.
Phila Ngqumba 021 - 4238741 / 4245161