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Statement of the Presidency: First Reference Group Meeting
19 January 2008
The Presidency yesterday met with the Multi-party Reference Group which will consider applications for pardon and advise the President. The formation of the Reference Group follows the President's announcement in Parliament on 21 November 2007, of a special process to assist the President in considering pardons to address what he called the unfinished business of the conflicts of the past.
The purpose of the meeting was to formally constitute the Reference Group and to discuss the Terms of Reference for the Reference Group. Members of the Reference Group acknowledged the serious nature the process and committed to assist the President in dealing with the special process expeditiously. It was also emphasised that the Reference Group exists only to consider amnesty applications in the context as announced by the President and that applications falling outside the ambit of this process will still be considered by the President in the normal course.
The Secretariat of the Reference Group will be provided by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The Terms of Reference were formally adopted. The Reference Group elected Dr Tertius Delport as its Chairperson.
For more information, please contact:
Mukoni Ratshitanga
Cell: 082 300 3447
Issued by: The Presidency
19 January 2008
Source: The Presidency (http://www.thepresidency.gov.za)