March 31, 2000

Amnesty Decision on Bophuthatswana Coup plotters

The Amnesty Committee of the TRC has today granted amnesty to two former Bophuthatswana soldiers who took part in a coup to overthrow Lucas Mangope - the former Bantustan leader.

The applicants, Jonathan Thlolebe Modisane and Solomon Netsi Mogale have been granted amnesty in respect of their roles in the attempted coup d'etat which took place in Bophuthatswana on February 10, 1998. At the time, the two applicants were privates in the Bophuthatswana Defence Force.

The applicants testified that on February 9, 1988, their Unit Commander, Sergeant Major Timothy Phiri informed them that they would soon be involved in an operation to overthrow the Bophuthatswana government.

They said, Phiri gave various reasons for the overthrow of the government including, mal-administration, corruption, forced removals of chiefs from tribal lands, nepotism in appointments in the Defence Force and the restraint on normal political activity.

On February 10, 1988, the applicants and 150 other soldiers who had converged, were divided into groups which rounded up all Cabinet Ministers who resided at the Presidents complex and took them to a nearby sports stadium. The Ministers were later rescued by the South African Defence Force and the coup came to an end.

In its decision, the Amnesty Committee is satisfied that the applicants made a full disclosure of all the relevant facts relating to the parts they played in the incident.

Transcripts of the decision is available on request.

For more information call : Mbulelo Sompeta - 082 452 7870.