DECISION
This is an application for amnesty by William Rudolf Liebenberg in terms of section 18 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act No. 34 of 1995.
Liebenberg was a member of the South African Police force and in 1983 he was transferred to the Security Branch in Cape Town. During the period 1986 to 1990, he was the Commanding Officer of the Terrorist Detection Unit which operated from Culemborg, Cape Town. The other members of his unit were Warrant Officer Nel, Captain Benzien, Kotze, Van Zyl and Goosen and Norje. They conceived it to be their duty to do everything in their power to avert the revolutionary onslaught of the SACP/ANC alliance and other banned organisations.
At all material times Benzien was under his command and accountable to him. He was aware of Benzien's method of interrogating suspects and occasionally witnessed Benzien in action. He never stopped Benzien from using violence on them. He regarded Benzien as his best interrogator. For his anti-terrorist work Benzien was awarded a medal by the Nationalist Party Government. Liebenberg admitted that he slapped Yengeni several times and he admitted threatening Yengeni with death if he did not talk. he said that he was present when Kruser was arrested and took part in assaulting him whilst conveying Kruser to Culemborg. He was present and assisted Benzien by pinning Forbes' legs to the ground while he was being interrogated with the "wet bag" on his head. He wanted to avoid Forbes from receiving any injury which might be seen or detected by the District Surgeon.
He admitted committing perjury in the trials of the Yengeni and Forbes, by denying that he assaulted them and by stating that he had no knowledge of the assault on them by Benzien.
On a consideration of all the evidence in this and in the Benzien application, the Committee has come to the conclusion that the offences for which he seeks amnesty were committed during and arose out of the conflicts of the past between the State and Liberation Organisations and were thus related to a political objective.
Liebenberg is
GRANTED: amnesty for the crime of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm on Ashley Forbes, Tony Yengeni, Peter Jacobs and Gary Kruser.
He is
GRANTED: amnesty for having committed perjury in the trials of Tony Yengeni and Ashley Forbes.
(Signed)
MALL J
WILSON J.
NGOEPE J.
ADV C DE JAGER
MRS S KHAMPEPE
