AC/2001/111

      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.

LODEWYK DE JAGER  APPLICANT

(AM4126/96)

                                                                                                 DECISION

The Applicant, a former member and senior officer of the Security Branch, applies for amnesty in terms of the provisions of Section 18 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No 34 of 1995 ("the Act").  The application is in respect of three incidents:

1.    The unlawful establishment of an arms cache at Suurbekom, Soweto during the period 1985 - 1987;

2.    The detonation of a small controlled explosive device in a public toilet on the beach at the Strand near Cape Town during August 1989;

3.    An explosion at the Athlone Post Office, Cape Town during August 1989.

At the time of the above first incident the Applicant was a Security Branch policeman stationed in Soweto, Johannesburg and at the time of the second and third incidents he was stationed in the Cape.

The objective of the first incident was to establish the credibility of a police informer who had infiltrated the ranks of an African National Congress/Umkhonto weSizwe ("ANC/MK") cell.  The informer had an order from his ANC/MK handlers to establish an arms cache and this was then done to assist him in retaining his credibility.  The Applicant approved this to be done under the supervision of one Col W Coetzee who served under his command.

The second incident took place in order to counter protest action by political activists on "Whites Only" beaches in a campaign known as "drown beach apartheid".  The Applicant decided on the action to be taken and instructed Capt Theron who served under him to do the necessary planning in collaboration with a Capt Baker from Pretoria Head Office.  He specifically instructed that the operation should take place in such a manner that no injuries or loss of life would ensue.

The third incident was intended to throw suspicion on the Mass Democratic Movement and the ANC and thereby alienating residents of the Athlone area from the said organisations.  No-one was injured or killed in any one of the abovementioned explosions.

After having considered all the information at the disposal of the Committee, we are satisfied that the Applicant has complied with all the requirements for amnesty, that all the incidents involved acts associated with a political objective as envisaged in the Act and that the Applicant has made a full disclosure of all relevant facts.

Accordingly amnesty is GRANTED to Lodewyk de Jager for:

1.    The unlawful establishment of an arms cache at Suurbekom, Soweto during the period 1985 - 1987;

2.    The detonation of a small controlled explosive device in a public toilet on the beach at the Strand near Cape Town during August 1989;

3.    An explosion at the Athlone Post Office, Cape Town during August 1989.

DATED AT CAPE TOWN THIS 5TH DAY OF APRIL 2001

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