AC/2001/052
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.
PAULOS MOHLOLO MOHAPI APPLICANT
(AM5903/97)
DECISION
This Applicant applies for amnesty for the illegal possession of arms and ammunition at Wesselsbron for which he was sentenced to imprisonment for a period of 4 years and 6 months on the 2nd of June 1995.
During a hearing in Bloemfontein (18-20 August 1998) of applications for amnesty by other Applicants (Decision AC2000/250) Mr Mbandazayo moved an application for the Applicant. The Panel was informed that according to records of the TRC no such application existed. It turned out after the hearing and decision, that the Applicant indeed did timeously apply for amnesty, yet not in relation to the specific incidents heard in Bloemfontein.
It transpired though at the hearing that the arms used by those Applicants for an attack on the Wesselsbron Supermarket (Sentra Hyperserve) were subsequently given to the Applicant for safekeeping and was discovered by the police, which led to the Applicant's conviction and imprisonment. All the parties were either members of the APLA or Task Force. Applicant was a member of Task Force.
The Committee is satisfied that the offence was committed with a political objective within the context of the conflicts of the past and that the Applicant has made a full disclosure of all relevant facts. Amnesty is accordingly GRANTED to the Applicant.
SIGNED AT CAPE TOWN THIS THE 5TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2001