CHAIRPERSON: Good morning everybody. Today we are going to hear the applications for amnesty of the following people, T Mutle, P Mfusa, N F Ranoto, Nkuna and S P Blose.
My name is Motata chairing the process and on my left I have Judge De Jager and on my right I have Advocate Bosman. I will request the legal representatives involved in this hearing to place their names on record.
MR KOOPEDI: Thank you Honourable Chairperson and Members of the Committee, my name is Brian Koopedi, I'm appearing for the first applicant today who will be Mr M F Ranoto. Thank you Chairperson.
MR MAPOMA: Chairperson, I'm Zuko Mapoma, I'm Leader of Evidence for the Committee.
CHAIRPERSON: Is there anybody who is representing the victims?
MR MAPOMA: Not in this matter Chairperson. In fact the victims themselves have not shown up. The situation, if I may just explain Chairperson, the investigative unit have been trying to locate the victims but without success and to that end the advert was distributed in the newspapers notifying the victims and there has not been a response.
CHAIRPERSON: I have seen the advert. I suppose in one you are referring to notification to victims in terms of Act 34/1995, the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act but it does not say when this advert appeared, it simply says this matter would be heard. Now in this instance 22nd to 26th November 1999 and another one says that of, S J Nkuna says on the 29th November to 3rd December?
MR MAPOMA: No Chairperson, sorry, in regard to this particular application, the one of Mr Ranoto, the potential victims in this matter were members of the South African Defence Force then and we have contacted the ...(indistinct) of the SANDF, they have responded to us by saying, in fact I've got a response in writing, I would want to hand it in.
CHAIRPERSON: You may approach us Mr Mapoma.
MR MAPOMA: Yes.
CHAIRPERSON: I suppose I've got to give Mr Koopedi a copy?
MR KOOPEDI: Thank you Chairperson.
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Mapoma but would you place this facsimile on record?
MR MAPOMA: Yes Chairperson. May I ask it to be labelled as Exhibit A?
JUDGE DE JAGER: The applicant has already been granted indemnity?
MR KOOPEDI: That is indeed so, he has been.
JUDGE DE JAGER: Is there anything - perhaps he should be sworn in.
CHAIRPERSON: When we now look at the situation, Mr Koopedi, that indemnity has been granted, would you let your applicant, your client, confirm the contents of his application form which we have accepted as timeously having been lodged with the Amnesty Committee we accept then, simply just to confirm the affidavit or is there anything that would turn around the application we don't know?
MR KOOPEDI: Chairperson, my intention was simply to do that and lead no further evidence.
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, you may proceed.
MR KOOPEDI: Thank you Chairperson, may he be sworn in?
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you, what language will he speak?
MR KOOPEDI: He prefers to speak Sotho.
MADIMECHA FRANS RANOTO: (sworn states)
EXAMINATION BY MR KOOPEDI: Thank you Chairperson.
Mr Ranoto, is it correct that you are an applicant and that the application form before you which forms part of the bundle of documents before this Honourable Committee is your application form and that it was completed by you?
MR RANOTO: Yes.
MR KOOPEDI: Now do you confirm the contents of your application form?
MR RANOTO: Yes I do.
MR KOOPEDI: Chairperson, that will be the evidence I intend leading at this point, thank you.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR KOOPEDI
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Koopedi. Mr Mapoma, do you have any questions to ask?
MR MAPOMA: Thank you Chairperson, I have no questions.
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Mapoma. Judge de Jager, do you have any questions to ask?
JUDGE DE JAGER: Is he also confirming the information on page 9?
MR KOOPEDI: That is correct, Chairperson, this information was derived from him and he confirms that.
ADV DE JAGER: Thank you.
CHAIRPERSON: Advocate Bosman?
ADV BOSMAN: Mr Koopedi, has your client confirmed that he has indeed been granted indemnity in this matter, I'm not sure?
MR KOOPEDI: That is indeed so, he was given indemnity in 1990.
ADV BOSMAN: Has he confirmed that?
MR KOOPEDI: Maybe let me lead him through that?
ADV BOSMAN: Just to confirm.
RE-EXAMINATION BY MR KOOPEDI: Just to confirm.
Mr Ranoto, is it correct that you were arrested and sentenced to 12 years for this incident, the subject of this application and that you were subsequently indemnified in 1990?
MADIMECHA FRANS RANOTO: (s.u.o.) That's positive.
MR KOOPEDI: Thank you Chairperson.
NO FURTHER QUESTIONS BY MR KOOPEDI
ADV BOSMAN: Thank you.
CHAIRPERSON: Thank you Mr Ranoto, the Committee will in due course give it's decision in this matter so the decision is reserved. You may stand down.
WITNESS EXCUSED
