AC/2001/247

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.

MANUAL ANTONIO OLIFANT 1ST APPLICANT

(AM4032/96)

MOLEKE PETER LENGENE (deceased) 2ND APPLICANT

(AM4033/96)

DECISION

The Applicants applied for amnesty for attacks by explosives on the Mzimhlope Hostel and the Dube hostel, alternatively the Jabulani hostel in Soweto.

Lengene passed away after duly filing an application for amnesty before the hearing.

At the hearing Olifant gave evidence that one Ledwaba had infiltrated the ANC. He was then given weapons and targets to attack. Ledwaba reported to Warrant Officer Willem Coetzee and it was decided to assist Ledwaba, protecting his cover and securing his credibility, by causing explosions at the Mzimhlope hostel and the Dube Hostel. In evidence, when referred to the application of Lengene mentioning the Mzimhlope and Jabulani hostels, Olifant said that he may be mistaken. He confirmed that they had certainly caused explosions at two hostels but called at others where they did not deem it safe to proceed with attacks. He conceded the incident might well have happened at the Jabulani hostel as Lengene stated and not the Dube hostel. This happened somewhere in 1986, probably in June of 1986. Limpet mines were placed under Kombi vehicles parked at the hostels. He remembers having read about the explosion at Mzimhlope hostel and that persons were seriously injured. He does not know whether anyone was injured in the other explosion. He, in fact, did not witness any of the two explosions when they occurred. People involved, according to the Applicants, were they themselves, Adriano Bambo, who placed the limpet mines, Lazarus Selamolela, Willem Coetzee, Tiekie de Jager, Anton Pretorius and others he cannot remember.

The implicated persons, Selamolela, Coetzee and Pretorius filed affidavits, denying any knowledge or involvement in the incidents.

The Committee was further informed by its evidence leader that despite extensive enquiries, no record could be traced of any explosions at any of the three places during 1986.

The Committee is, however, satisfied that the Applicants were indeed involved in some sort of attack on the Mzimhlope and Dube or Jabulani hostel during or about June 1986, that the attacks were carried out with a political objective within the context of the conflicts of the past and that full disclosure of all relevant facts have been made.

The Applicants are GRANTED amnesty for these attacks.

DATED AT CAPE TOWN THIS DAY OF 2001.

JUDGE S KHAMPEPE

MR I LAX

MR W MALAN

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