DECISION
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This is an application 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 Committee has experienced considerable difficulty in obtaining official records relating to the offences which form the subject matter of the application. The information available, however, indicates that Applicant was arrested during or about September 1985 in respect of charges of arson and terrorism and held at Vereeniging. He was later tried and convicted of these charges (according to his application form also possibly of public violence) in the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court. He was sentenced to 24 years imprisonment on 10 December 1987 which sentence he served on Robben Island. He was later released with other political prisoners on 30 April 1991. He was at all material times either a member of supporter of the African National Congress who has confirmed his present status as a member of the organisation.
Having considered the matter we are satisfied by all the facts and surrounding circumstances, that the offences in question were acts associated with a political objective as envisaged by the Act. We are accordingly satisfied that the application complies with the requirements of the Act.
In the circumstances amnesty is hereby GRANTED to applicant in respect of the offences of arson and terrorism for which he was sentenced to direct imprisonment in the Potchefstroom Magistrate's Court on or about 10 December 1987.
DATED AT CAPE TOWN THIS 23RD DAY OF JANUARY 2000.
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