JOHANNESBURG April 20 1998 - SAPA

TRC TO HEAR OF AZAPO, UDF WAR IN SOWETO

Details of the bitter war between the Azanian People's Organisation and the United Democratic Front during the 1980s are to revealed before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's amnesty committee in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

The hearing, in which three Azapo members are seeking amnesty for the murder of four Soweto Students' Congress members, was adjourned on Monday - 20 minutes after it had started - due to technical problems.

Work on the audio equipment delayed the hearing for four hours and when the proceeding started, the equipment was giving so much feedback that committee chairman Judge Bernard Ngoepe was compelled to adjourn the hearing.

Amnesty applicants Joseph Hlasa, Anastasios Mphoreng and Ernest Thandakubona were expected to give details about their involvement in the war between the anti-apartheid organisations which left scores of activists dead.

The three applicants have taken responsibility for the killing of Edwin Vuyani Nkomo, Mbulelo Mabena, Msilana Ronnel Sishange and Oscar Amos Mlangeni who were abducted and tortured after the burning of a house belonging to fellow Azapo member Jefferson Lengane.

Simon Morris and Sekano Avonly Kgase, who were also abducted, survived the attack and Kgase reported the incident to police who later arrested the three.

The three jumped bail and fled into exile. They were re-arrested on their return in 1995 and judgment in their trial was reserved pending the outcome of their amnesty application.

The applicants have claimed that the order to kill the student body members was issued by Azapo leaders Sam Seema and Thami Mcerwa, who has since died.

Tensions between Black Consciousness followers and Charterists came to a boil after the formation of the UDF in 1983.

Hostilities first broke out in the Eastern Cape where a so-called third force was suspected of setting comrades against each other. These hostilities turned into an open warfare in Soweto as the two organisations tried to establish an ideological hegemony in the country's largest town.

Thabo Jacob Lengane, Jefferson's father, was abducted and killed in the township at the height of the conflict.


© South African Press Association, 1998
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