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Special Report Transcript Episode 48, Section 2, Time 05:25

‘Landmines.’ // How does the ANC justify the usage of landmines on public roads in view of it having signed the Geneva protocol? // Landmines were used in areas that were extensively patrolled by the South African Defence Force and also by the Area Protection Units known by the term ‘commandoes.’ Most of those operations, landmine operations, were in the border areas, the areas that were patrolled very, very effectively. I think it is common knowledge to the Commission here that part of the fence was electrified and in most instances it was on the lethal mode and there were gaps. And where they didn’t have the fence, that’s where most of the patrolling took place. The idea was to try and impede, reduce the intensity of these patrols. The African National Congress realized that after the few incidents where civilians were caught the President called us in and asked us to put a stop to this method of operation. I gave the instructions to all our forces to stop using the landmine.

Notes: Hanif Vally; Joe Modise

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Glossary
The ANC's landmine campaign from 1985 to 1987 targeted military patrols in the mainly northern and eastern areas of the Transvaal. A number of civilians - white farmers, their families, and black farm labourers - were killed when these explosives were detonated. The campaign was called off in the ...
 
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