TUESDAY, 3.30PM
A NEW ROW has blown up over the Truth Commission’s amnesty for 37 ANC leaders, after National Party leader Martinus van Schalkwyk marched on the Truth Commission offices and demanded to see the amnesty applications.
ANC acting secretary-general Cheryl Carolous said that as a former Military Intelligence agent — van Schalkwyk was an undercover agent during his years as a student political leader — he was in no position to question the integrity of the Truth Commission.
“It is a bit too much that a Military Intelligence agent’s party … could have the gall to question the amnesty applications by legitimate political leaders who fought against his evil system of apartheid,” Carolus said.
Carolus asked why the National Party had been silent when the Truth Commission granted amnesty to such people as former security policeman Brian Mitchell, who massacred villagers at Trust Feeds in KwaZulu-Natal.
Meanwhile the Democratic Party’s Dene Smuts joined the fray, demanding that the TRC give reasons for the ANC amnesty deals. Smuts said it was difficult to see how Defence Minister Joe Modise’s application could be dealt with in secret when he was seeking amnesty for acts which had led to death and injury.
She said deputy president Thabo Mbeki’s application “is even more problematic since it baldly states `no specific deeds, omissions or offences’. A person cannot be indemnified for nothing in particular and everything in general … If Mr Mbeki can get off the hook like this, then so could Mr FW de Klerk.”
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