self-defence units (SDUs)

MR MHLABA: So is it your case, Mr Motlokoa, that in killing the deceased, Peacock Tsosane, you were furthering the interests of your political organisation and ensuring the smooth operation of the Self Defence Units?

On joining the Defence Force Chaplains had to undergo basic military training and Chaplains assigned to the operational units usually did all conventional or unconventional training with his unit. The idea was to become acquainted with the circumstances under which the soldiers had to operate and ...

... I would request families of those who lost their children, please forgive me. I did not like what happened. The members of the Self Defence Units did not like this, we are therefore applying for amnesty. We will meet with our counsel so that we can meet with the next of kin, especially ...

      Self Defence Units

MR PATEL: We've also heard evidence that you were a member of one of the self defence units, is that correct?

... At the relevant time Applicant was a member of the African National Congress ("ANC"), Thokoza and was involved in activities of the Self-Defence Units ("SDU") in Thokoza, established at the instance of the ...

was required to buy weapons to arm and defend ANC supporters. The order came from one Mshishi Nzimande, a local commander in charge of Self-Defence Units. He had supplied him with two firearms and a knife. He had no previous training in the use of firearms. Nzimande also gave him the authority ...

... the 25th of November 1998. This is a sitting of the Amnesty Committee in regard to the applications of members of the Thokoza Self Defence Units. The panel is as before and Advocate Steenkamp appears for the Commission as the Leader of ...

... to defend those people from attacks by other groupings. It was explained that it was necessary to establish what is now known as self defence units because and in particular the police were not helping to resolve the situation at all. The area of Tokoza was no exception and essentially, ...

... and I will regard those issues to be of common cause, that all the applicants were active members of the ANC and they were involved in Self Defence Units of the ANC and also members of the MK ...

MR QHALO: I was not alone, I was with people. We were there as Self Defence Units, but they didn't do anything, they didn't take part, but they were with me and I'm the one who kicked the door and when Chairman came with the car we left them behind. I then left with Chairman to go and kill these ...

MR SAMUELS: And during the early 1990's you were a member of the self defence units in Thokoza, is that correct?

to get the arms as that was my instructions, because I was instructed to form some defence unit to protect the community. One of those self-defence units was Mlungisi and Mbokane. I told them to go and check what was happening there. ...

Once at Umgababa he, his co-Applicants and other people from his area joined some sort of self-defence units and engaged in training with firearms and other weapons. They were involved in a number of attacks and incidents of political violence against neighbouring areas that were prevalent at the ...

Mr Yekwani what is being put to you is that the self defence units were really established to protect and defend the community, in other words you were defending people and was not so much to attack but rather to defend. Now how would you understand it?

and ask Andrew Trench, Patrick Goodenough, even - I can't remember her surname now, Louise Flanagan, I told them about the formation of self-defence units for the ADM. I gave them evidence. The agreement between us was that they would publish my name in the articles so that I would be protected ...

... circumstances of this case, given the fact that despite it's stated peaceful stance, the ANC had seen it fit to establish SDU's, self defence units. It was quite alive to the effect that a need may arise when some form of force would have to be used ...

... another MK operative, Monwabisi Tsewu, to acquire firearms for the purpose of defending the community and to train new recruits to the Self Defence Units. Chris Hani did not identify specific targets whence firearms had to be obtained. In execution of this order, applicant proceeded to ...

MR SIBEKO: Do you further confirm that at the time of your membership of the Self Defence Units, you were firstly under the command of Mfinos and later on under the command of Mosa Msimango?

We as members of the defence units resolved that our community, being an ANC stronghold, should be defended by all means necessary even if it meant the ultimate sacrifice of our lives but there was one impediment, namely the absence of our means to secure arms and ammunition to protect our ...