PIETERMARITZBURG July 29 - SAPA

AMNESTY COMMITTEE READY TO APPROVE APPLICATION OF ANC FOUR

The Truth and Reconciliation's Amnesty Committee on Tuesday indicated its intention to approve the amnesty applications of four African National Congress activists, including two former Umkhonto we Sizwe soldiers, who killed Edendale IFP leader Arnold Lolo Lombo in 1990.

In a two-and-a-half hour session the committee heard the applications of ANC/United Democratic Front members Sipho Motaung, 33, Nhlanhla Sibisi, 30, and Johannes Sithole.

The fourth applicant, an escaped convict, Philemon Dlamini, 45, who did not attend Tuesday's hearing for fear of re-arrest, is also to be included in the committee's positive recommendations.

Dlamini was sentenced in 1992 by an Ixopo court to an effective five years' imprisonment for armed robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He escaped from Pietermaritzburg prison in July 1993 and was never recaptured.

The other three men were until Tuesday out on bail pending their scheduled appearance in the regional court for Lombo's murder and on charges of escaping from custody. Dlamini was yet to appear in court in connection with Lombo's murder.

According to the applicants' attorney, John Willis, the criminal case was postponed pending the outcome of the amnesty application.

Explaining Tuesday's judgment, committee chairman Judge Andrew Wilson said the attack on Lombo was very clearly a military operation involving the following of direct orders.

Lombo was shot at close range by Sibisi in the city's Joshua Doore store where he was employed at the time. The other applicants were accessories to the murder.

Motaung, an MK soldier, said the attack on Lombo was planned and directed by his military seniors in furtherance of the ANC's political struggle. He had received the assassination instructions from an MK commander working underground in the Edendale area, known to him only as "Mandla".

Sibisi told the committee he was given the task of ensuring that no other people were hurt during the attack.

Wilson said: "There was no conflict on any of the facts and none of the evidence was contested by the deceased's relatives," he said.

Lombo's relatives did not oppose the application, saying they would leave it in the hands of the committee.

"Only God can forgive them for their sins and that is who they should be applying to," Lombo's widow told the hearing.

Amnesty will be granted formally to the four men only after publication of their proposed amnesty in the Government Gazette and after each applicant has been notified in writing. This is expected to take two to three weeks.


© South African Press Association, 1997
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