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The Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced that amnesty was granted by the Amnesty Committee to Dirk Coetzee, Branch Commander of the Security Police for the murder of Patrick Nkosi, Patrick Makau, Peter Dlamini, Selby Mavuso, Gonisiswe Kondile, the attempted murder of Khothatso Motoi, Joyce Dipale, Shadi Nkwanyane, the kidnapping and assaulting of Joe Pillay, and for several other incidents.

Coetzee was refused amnesty for conspiracy to murder an unknown Swazi citizen, the envisaged attack on Marius Schoon, all offences directly linked to diamond dealing and the murder of a so-called diamond dealer, the cover-up of shootings on Messrs Motaund, Mokona, Lephatswe and Radubu.

Also granted amnesty in the same incident was Butana Nofemela a police officer and a member of the Vlakplaas contingent, for the attempted murder of Joyce Dipale, Shadi Nkwanyane, Khothatso Motoi, the attempted kidnapping of a person known as "General", the kidnapping and assault on Moabi Dipale and Japie Maponya and offences falling within the jurisdiction of the South African Courts flowing from and directly related to the conspiracy to kill ANC members. Nofemela was refused amnesty for the assault on Mr Paris Mkhize in Piet Retief and for the murder of Johannes Lourens in the district of Brits.

Amnesty was granted to Natshavheni Tshikalanga, a member of the Security Police for offences linked to and flowing from the attack on Joyce Dipale's house, including the attempted murder on her and Shadi Mkwanyane, the kidnapping of Joe Pillay, the theft of an Audi motor car belonging to Mr. Edward Maepi, the burning of a car and small truck belonging to Robert Sacco and conspiracy to murder Jabu Nyaose and his wife. Tshikalanga was refused amnesty for any offence flowing from the murder of an unknown man in Lindley and for the murder or an attempt to murder Jabu Nyaose and his wife in Swaziland.

Phineas Ndlovu a member of the ANC Youth League was refused amnesty for the murder of Christina Masupa, Eunice Shabangu, Cathrine Nkosi, Melzinah Mbata, the attempted murder of Richard Mbatha, Godfrey Masupa, Trevor Cindi, Elinale Masup and arson relating to the house of Elinale Masup.

Amnesty was also refused to Patrick Dlongwane for the possession of a stolen 7.65 Presto Pistol, accidentally discharging a firearm, stabbing and killing Mzolisi Gxuma, supplying information to the security branch in regard to persons present at the United Democratic Front offices, assaulting Mpumelelo Mpundu, acquiring weapons together with Dennis Goodson, and as a general of the Natal Liberation Army (NLA) planning of operations and the unlawful possession of 60 boxes of AK47 ammunition and an F1 hand-grenade, planning a revenge attack of an ANC member and for conspiring and attempting to kill ANC leaders attending the new KwaZulu-Natal Legislature after the 1994 national elections.

Contact: Odile Pearce at (021) 424 5161

Issued by: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), 14 September 2001