I was granted amnesty in the TRC, Kasrils tells Khampepe Commission

Former Intelligence Services Minister and uMkhonto weSizwe commander Ronnie Kasrils has been outlining his own history before the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry , including his involvement in underground operations against the apartheid state.

Kasrils says he received amnesty from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for politically motivated activities linked to the liberation struggle.

Kasrils says, “I seek to continue my application relating to my involvement in acts of sabotage and other activities undertaken by uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) during the period from 1961 to 1993.

My involvement during this period extended beyond acts of sabotage and encompassed various MK operations during the earlier period.” “Four other individuals also applied for amnesty in respect of related activities.

They were my two commanders in the Natal regional command, Koenig and Lourens; Billy Naya; Eleanor Kastroulis, who was my girlfriend at the time and later became my wife, but who is now deceased; and Benny Turok,” adds Kasrils.

He says, “The official amnesty decision expressly confirms my membership of the African National Congress (ANC) and records that the acts in respect of which I sought amnesty were politically motivated.

I annex hereto the decision of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission amnesty committee, issued in 2000, marked RK1.

At the TRC amnesty hearing held from 31 July to 1 August 2000, I sought amnesty for operations for which I was directly responsible.” “These operations were carried out in 1988 by the Britzstrom unit under the leadership of the honourable Damien de Lange and involved an attack on a communications tower in Linksfield and a military bus in Benoni.

On 14 May 2001, I was granted amnesty by the TRC in respect of these operations.

A copy of the amnesty decision is annexed hereto and marked RK2,” explains Kasrils.

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