AC/2001/119

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.

JAN CAREL COETZEE 1ST APPLICANT

(AM4120/96)

JOHANNES MEYER 2ND APPLICANT

(AM4152/96)

MARTIN JOHAN NAUDE 3RD APPLICANT

(AM4362/96)

DECISION

The Applicants apply for amnesty in terms of the provisions of Section 18 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act, No. 34 of 1995 ("the Act").

The matter relates to the setting up of a so-called "DLB" ("Dead Letter Box") during March 1988 in or near Krugersdorp. This involved the planting of arms and ammunition on the premises of a disused mine. It was done to create the impression that it was an arms cache established by a liberation movement. The arms were transported from Pretoria to Krugersdorp by the second and third Applicants, Johannes Meyer and Martin Naude. Naude received his orders from Brigadier Schoon and he (Naude) in turn requested Meyer to accompany him.

The first Applicant, Coetzee, reported the "finding" of the cache to his superior, Colonel Le Roux who then communicated it to all interested parties and the media. Soon thereafter the South African Defence Force attacked a house in Gaborone, Botswana, ostensibly inter alia as a result of this "find".

After having considered all relevant documentation in chambers, the Committee is satisfied that the Applicants have complied with all of the requirements for amnesty, that the offence/s committed were associated with a political objective within the context of the conflict of the past and that they have made a full disclosure of all relevant facts as required by the Act.

Accordingly, amnesty is GRANTED to:

1. Jan Carel Coetzee for all offences directly associated with the unlawful establishment of an arms cache at or near Krugersdorp in or about March 1988;

2. Johannes Meyer for all offences directly associated with the unlawful transportation of firearms and ammunition for the purposes of unlawfully establishing an arms cache at or near Krugersdorp in or about March 1988;

3. Martin Johan Naude for all offences directly associated with the unlawful transportation of firearms and ammunition for the purposes of unlawfully establishing an arms cache at or near Krugersdorp in or about March 1988.

DATED AT CAPE TOWN THIS DAY OF 2001.

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