AC/2000/040

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.

EUGENE ALEXANDER DE KOCK FIRST APPLICANT

(AM 0066/96)

ANDRIES JOHANNES VAN HEERDEN SECOND APPLICANT

(AM 3763/96)

DECISION

The above applicants apply for Amnesty for the bombing in October 1989 of the house of Dr Bulbulia at Bakerton, Springs.

Brigadier Andries Zirk Gouws, then head of the Springs Security Branch, ordered De Kock to bomb the house of Dr Bulbulia, apparently an ANC activist on the East Rand, in order to intimidate him. De Kock in turn obtained clearance from his superiors and instructed Van Heerden to assist him.

One night in October 1989 they proceeded with two 400g TNT bombs to the house of Dr Bulbulia and set off the bombs. There was no intention to injure or kill anyone and slight damage was caused to the house.

Brigadier Gouws (AM4141/96) applied for Amnesty for the same incident and was GRANTED Amnesty on the 1st June 1998.

The Committee is satisfied that the above applicants, acting under instructions, committed these acts within the context of the conflicts of the past, acted with a political objective as envisaged in the Act and made a full disclosure of all material facts pertaining to the incident.

Both the above-named applicants are therefore GRANTED amnesty for all acts associated with the bombing of the house of Dr Bulbulia in October 1989 in Bakerton, Springs, including offences related to the unlawful possession of explosives used in the incident.

Signed at Cape Town on this the 17th day of March 2000.