Truth Commission Special Report
Decision - 59482

Type: AMNESTY DECISIONS
Names: JOSEPH KOETLE     FIRST,DICK JOSEPH HLONGWANE   SECOND
Matter: AM7500/97,AM5315/97
Decision: GRANTED
URL: https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/hearing.php?id=59482&t=&tab=hearings
Original File: https://sabctrc.saha.org.za/originals/decisions/2001/ac21200.htm
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DECISION

Both Applicants apply for amnesty in relation to their participation   in a car-bomb incident at the Standard Bank Sports Arena in 1987.  The original   application referred to the Ellis Park Stadium but this was later corrected   at a hearing to refer to the Standard Bank Sports Arena which was situated at   Ellis Park.  The second Applicant (Hlongwane) applies for amnesty in respect   of the part he played in the robbery of a motor vehicle from the occupants of   House 2772, Zone 2, Meadowlands.

The first Applicant was a member of the African National   Congress and a commander in Umkhonto weSizwe.  The second Applicant was also   a member of the African National Congress and describes himself as a soldier   in Umkhonto weSizwe and fell under the command of the first Applicant whom he   describes as "Spaceman".

The first incident involved setting off a limpet mine underneath   a car parked outside the arena whilst a boxing match was taking place there.    No persons were killed or injured as a result of the explosion.  The first Applicant   stated:

            "In order to achieve our liberation   a number of methods were used.  Sporting boycott was one of them.  Therefore   this bomb that damaged vehicles outside the Standard Bank Sport Arena was intended   to scare foreigners/sporting personnel coming to South Africa."

In further particulars supplied   to the Amnesty Committee he stated that he supplied the second Applicant with   the explosives used in the incident and gave him instructions to do so.

The second Applicant in his application   stated:

            "The intention of the bomb   at the Ellis Park Sports Arena was to stop the boxing that took place.  This   had involved a foreign boxer and a South African.  I was enforcing the boycott   of any sporting link with South Africa.  Therefore the foreign boxer was breaking   the boycott."

We are satisfied that the act was one committed on behalf   of a liberation movement and was an acct associated with a political objective   committed in the course of the conflicts of the past and that the Applicants   have met the requirements of the Act;  they are accordingly entitled to amnesty   in respect of any offences or delicts arising from this explosion outside the   Standard Bank Sports Arena in 1987.

The second Applicant's second application arises out of   his assisting the first Applicant, his commander, to steal a motor vehicle so   that he could escape from the country.  The second Applicant kept guard whilst   the first Applicant entered the house to force the occupants to give him the   car keys.  The first Applicant who was given amnesty in respect of this incident   on 18th September 2000, testified that the second Applicant was with him at   the time but was left at the scene.

We are satisfied that the second   Applicant, who was assisting his commander and who made no personal profit from   the incident, is also entitled to amnesty in respect of his participation in   the robbery.

The applications set out above   are accordingly GRANTED.

SIGNED AT CAPE TOWN THIS THE 28TH   DAY OF MAY 2001

JUDGE A WILSON

ADV F BOSMAN

MR W MALAN

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