AC/98/0047

TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION COMMISSION

AMNESTY COMMITTEE

APPLICATION IN TERMS OF SECTION 18 OF THE PROMOTION OF NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION ACT, NO.34 OF 1995.

MATHEW SIDNEY GAYLARD APPLICANT

(AM 6388/97)

DECISION

In 1989 the applicant erected and occupied a shack on state property at Stellenbosch. This was a protest action aimed at exposing the failure of the government of the day to provide housing for the disenfranchised communication. It was also intended to provide housing for the disenfranchised communities. It was also intended to mobilise support for the liberation movements.

The applicant was arrested and charged with trespassing. He was convicted and a sentence with an option of a fine was imposed.

The decision to embark on this protest action was taken by the Stellenbosch Housing Action Committee (SHAC).

During 1990, at a general meeting of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) a decision was taken to hold a picket calling for the unbanning of the ANC. As the Education Officer of NUSAS, the applicant participated in the picket.

The political objective sought to be achieved was to force the then South African government to unban the ANC (Defiance Campaign).

Also for this second act, the applicant was arrested and charged with participating in an illegal picket. He was convicted. The sentence imposed upon him had an option of a fine.

The Applicant is entitled to amnesty for both offences and accordingly is GRANTED amnesty for:

Trespassing

Illegal Picketing

SIGNED ON THIS THE 7TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER 1998.