TRC Final Report

Volume 6

Section 3

Chapter 2

Subsection 19

Crowd killings

178. Although SDUs were usually small units, some of the less structured SDUs seem to have operated in conjunction with larger groups of residents or crowds in ‘collective action’.

179. Amnesty applicant Foreman Mngomezulu [AM0187/96; AC/2000/048] described himself as a member of the ANC and a deputy commander in the SDU ‘responsible for protecting the community’. He applied for and was granted amnesty for his role in an incident that took place in Mandela Section, Daveyton, Transvaal, on 21 March 1992.

180. Patrick Khumalo and Mr Absolom Mnyakeni, who were suspected of killing the Secretary of the Youth League in the area, were violently assaulted and abducted f rom their home along with two others who were believed to be harbouring them. The four were taken to a nearby sports ground where they were further assaulted with iron bars and sjamboks in front of a ‘large crowd of ‘comrades’ and the community’. Petrol was then poured over them and they were burnt alive.

MS LOCKHAT: And whose decision was it to burn the two victims? MR MNGOMEZULU: All the ‘comrades’ took that decision … It was the street committee that came up with the idea and we all agreed. … JUDGE DE JAGER: Could you tell me, did you – were they still conscious when you p o u red the petrol on them and burnt them, or were they in a coma or unconscious at that stage, what was their physical state when you started the burning ? MR MNGOMEZULU: They were still alive. JUDGE DE JAGER: Still standing upright? MR MNGOMEZULU: Yes, they were still conscious. … MS LOCKHAT: Tell me, wasn’t it you, you also, I think one of the deceased asked for water and you said that they should give them petrol to drink rather? Is that true? MR MNGOMEZULU: No, it was the street committee. (Johannesburg hearing, 1 November 1999.)

Armed robbery

181. SDUs executed a number of armed robberies, targeting both civilians and security forces. Applicants explained that they needed money to buy weapons.

182. Mr Mlungiselele Ndamane, an SDU member in Katlehong [AM3124/96; AC/1999/0231], applied for and was granted amnesty for the armed robbery of a branch of Volkskas bank in February 1992. Mr Zakhele Jan Simelane [AM3122/96; AC/1999/0209] applied for and was granted amnesty for the ro bbery of vehicles and a bank to obtain money for arms on SDU orders. Mr Molife Michael Selepe [AM7154/97; AC/2000/139] described how a group of Toko z a SDU members staged an armed robbery on the Klipriver police station in order to acquire weapons. Similarly, four members of a newly formed SDU in Heilbro n , Orange Free State, robbed a police station of weapons on 8 July 1992.

183. Mr SM Manyamalala [AM3150/96] explained that he was recruited to an SDU in Soweto in 1992. He was ordered to fetch weapons and, in order to obey this o rd e r, hijacked a vehicle on 3 February 1993, killing the civilian driver, Mr WS F roneman, and injuring the passenger, Ms Ruth Jennifer Barker.

Attacks on police and skirmishes

184. A number of skirmishes took place between SDU members and the police, often while police were attempting to make arrests. Mr Mxolisi Duma [AM3145/96; AC/1999/0210] was granted amnesty for a shoot-out with police while he was transporting weapons near Soweto in November 1990.

185. SDU members also launched offensive attacks and ambushes on police while engaged in defensive skirmishes. Mr Mhlabunzima Phakamisa [AM0660/96] and Mr Two-boy Vakele Jack [AM0919/96], members of an SDU in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, concealed themselves in a shack and opened fire on an Internal Stability Unit (ISU) patrol on 22 July 1992. Four members of an SDU in the Transkei abducted two policemen from the Bhongweni police station near Kokstad, Transkei, on 17 October 1993. The two police officers allegedly attempted to escape from the vehicle and the SDU members shot them dead. The SDU members claimed that these abductions were in retaliation for the SADF attack on the home of a PA C member in Umtata on 8 October 1993 in which five sleeping youths, including two twelve - year-old children, were shot dead.¹⁵⁴ The two applicants were granted amnesty [AC/1998/0029].