AC/2000/188

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.

DIME MATTHEWS KEKANA APPLICANT

(AM 5885/97)

DECISION

The applicant applies for amnesty in respect of treason.

The applicant, at all relevant times, was a member of the African National Congress (the ANC) and Umkontho WeSizwe (MK).

During January 1986 the applicant was convicted of high treason and sentenced to undergo fourteen years of imprisonment. The overt acts resulting in the conviction were the military training he received abroad and the bombing of a railway line at or near Dube during 1982. The bombing of the railway line caused no loss of life or injury and was aimed at disrupting normal rail traffic.

It is evident from the documentation before us that the offences committed by the applicant were acts associated with a political objective committed in the course of the conflicts of the past in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995.

Applicant is GRANTED amnesty in respect of treason for which he was convicted to 14 years imprisonment by the then Supreme Court of Sourth Witwatersrand Local Division, on 31 January 1986.

Signed in CAPE TOWN this the 6th Day of November 2000

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