self-defence units (SDUs)

South Africa. I am going to say two things. First of all there was a security situation developing in South Africa which resulted in Defence Force units deployed in places like Sebokeng, the Rand area in general, and also in the greater Durban area. So at the beginning of 1990 the headquarters ...

... 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, ...

MS PATEL: Mr Thulo, by the time of the abduction of Mr Sewasi, for how long had you been involved in the Self Defence Units, up until that stage?

CHAIRPERSON: Today is the 9th of December 1998. This is the continuation of the session of the Amnesty Committee, hearing applications from members of the Self Defence Units.

... to the arson. Applicant says that these rifles were brought to him for safekeeping by Ntsikelelo Mbambisa who was in charge of AZAPO's Defence Units. It appeared that Mbambisa was wanted by the police in connection with an explosion at Uitenhage and he did not want the police to find these ...

... 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 ...

Hugh. We thank you Mr Xaba. I believe that if you can give us the, Hoko's address and try to find out as to whether at that time the, this defence units which you were a member, who was the leader at that time and, again, your incident was taken to the higher offices, that is the responsibility ...

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?

23. As a result of the political conflict in the Vaal Triangle, township residents set up Self Defence Units ("SDU") to patrol and protect themselves from attacks by IFP supporters. This was in line with ANC policy elsewhere in the country. Boipatong Township and Slovo Park had SDUs that ...

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

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 ...

At the time of the commission of the acts referred to herein the applicant was a commander of the Slovo Section (East Rand) Self Defence Units (SDUs) of the African National Congress ("the ANC") which he joined in 1990.

... the Applicant, he was a card carrying member of the African National Congress  ("ANC") in Vosloorus.  He was also a member of the Self-Defence Units ("SDU") in Vosloorus since 1992.  The first commander of his SDU, George Skamora Machel was killed on 7 July 1992 whereafter Mr Makhubele ...

MS CAMBANIS: No, it is a separate incident relating to Self Defence Units.

... was an active IFP member. He was responsible for the deaths of many ANC members. He was identified as a legitimate target by the Self Defence Units - sorry, that should be "Self", and the ANC. By this time the comrades in the area had accumulated a few firearms. "We had formed ourselves ...

MS GOBODO-MADIKIZELA: I don't want to interrupt you Jambasi, I just want briefly, just be very brief. Just go back you once said it was clear that the fight had started, you had some self defence units, was that true?

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 ...

CHAIRPERSON: Self Defence Units never existed that time, not of the kind that we know now.

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. ...

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?