AC/99/0196

AC/99/0196

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

AMNESTY COMMITTEE

APPLICATION IN TERMS OF SECTION 18 OF THE PROMOTION OF NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION ACT, NO.34 OF 1995.

COENRAAD VLIETSTRA APPLICANT

(AM 7985/97)

DECISION

The applicant, at the time a junior officer in the Special Defence Force, applies for amnesty in respect of his participation in the Ribeiro murders. The evidence relating to this incident appears in the decision in application 3799/97.

The assassins used a Golf motor car when they committed the murders. They drove this car to a pre-arranged spot where they got into Robey's car and were driven by him to their hotel. The applicant Vlietstra took control of the car used in the operation and as arranged saw to its destruction later.

Further detail about the planning and execution of the murders appear from the decisions in applications 3799/97 and 5453/97.

The Committee, having considered the application and the evidence is satisfied that the requirements for amnesty laid down in Act 34 of 1995 have been met.

Amnesty is therefore GRANTED in respect of the following offences:-

1. The murders of Dr and Mrs Ribeiro during or about December 1986 and the following offences connected herewith;

a. malicious damage to property;

b. contravention of the Arms and Ammunition Act, 75 of 1969;

c. contravention of the Dangerous Weapons Act, 71 of 1968;

d. contravention of the Explosives Act, 27 of 1956.

2. Any act of preparation, conspiring, aiding or abetting in the aforesaid murder.

Any act as an accessory after the fact in respect of the aforesaid murders, including defeating the ends of justice.

SIGNED ON THE 21ST OF MAY 1999.