Right-Wing Groups - South African Government Information

106. The Committee found that, although the applicant had killed the deceased in
the execution of an ord e r, this was not sufficient to warrant the granting of
a m n e s t y. His motive in killing the deceased was to appease his superiors in the
o rder and to displace any doubts they (or indeed the applicant) might have had
about his ability to act as an assassin. The killing of the deceased was not only
u n reasonable, but was totally out of line with and disproportionate to the
achievement of the stated political objective of the organisation – that is, the
elimination of senior members of government or other political movements. It
amounted to nothing more than a tragic loss of life, with no tangible or fore s e e-
able benefit for the applicant’s political organisation.
107. The Committee found that the killing did not achieve any desired political
objective, and amnesty was accordingly refused [AC/1998/0025].
108. As re g a rds the application for amnesty for the ro b b e r y, the applicant testified at
the amnesty hearing that it was the policy of the Orde van die Dood to commit
robberies to raise funds for the subsistence of members of the organisation and
that he had committed the robbery in furtherance of such policy.
109. In his evidence, Mr Andries Kriel confirmed the existence of such a policy.
MR KRIEL: … I would also like to add, Chairperson, that at that time when
people struggled with the collection of finances and funds, they were constantly
told that if they did not have money to continue that they should not come to us
and ask for money, they should commit robbery. (Pretoria hearing, March 1998.)
110. After careful consideration, the Committee decided to give the applicant the
benefit of the doubt and to find that the robbery was not committed for personal
gain. This meant accepting the applicant’s explanation of why the evidence he
gave before the Committee diff e red from that placed before the trial court.
Amnesty for the robbery was there f o re granted [AC/1998/0025].
111. A c c o rding to Lottering and Kriel, another general order given to members was
that they should attempt to escape from prison in order to continue to fight for
the cause of the organisation.
MR KRIEL: Regarding escapes, we told the people prior to the fact that – and
we also this to them when we visited them in prison – we told them that if they
could escape and if we could help them escape we should do it immediately so
that we could continue with the struggle. That was also a general order which
was issued. (Pretoria hearing, March 1998.)
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