LEONARD NDZHUKULA, Ermelo | Monday, 6.00PM
INKATHA Freedom Party lawyers on Monday demanded the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s amnesty committee chairman, who is presiding over the Ermelo hearings, resign immediately on charges of bias.
Advocate Johan Hattingh, who is leading the IFP’s legal council, told the committee that his clients had ordered him to demand that Judge Ronny Pillay be removed because he allegedly favours African National Congress amnesty applicants. The charge was levelled on Friday after Pillay refused to allow ANC applicant Bongani Wilberforce Khaba to be cross-examined about murders for which he had not applied for amnesty.
The Ermelo hearing was still not under way on Monday afternoon as the debate between the legal council and amnesty committee continued. Meanwhile IFP supporters arrived at the hearing en masse, and police had to remove the party’s local chairperson, Mthunzi Motha, who was accused of being under the influence of alcohol and misbehaving.