OWN CORRESPONDENT, Umtata | Tuesday 9.30pm.
A TRUTH and Reconciliation Commission judge in Umtata, Transkei on Tuesday issued a subpoena against former Transkei president Kaizer Matanzima for failing to appear before the TRC’s amnesty committee hearing into the murder of former University of Transkei student Batandwa Ndondo.
Ndondo was shot and killed by police in September 1985.
Matanzima’s legal representative Jonathan Hobbs submitted medical reports to the TRC suggesting that Matanzima had a memory lapse. After a short adjournment Judge Sandile Ngcobo ruled that there was nothing in the reports to suggest that his testifying at the committee would be detrimental to his health.
It is alleged that Matanzima made “a certain statement” during a political rally where he blamed Ndondo for bringing “terrorists” to Umtata to blow up a fuel depot. The applicants for amnesty are Vlakplaas commander Eugene de Kock, a former Transkei security policeman Inspector Lamont Dandala and askari Mbuso Shabalala.