Amnesty Hearings — East London — 1999-04-26

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: Thank you Chairperson.
"The aforesaid house was specifically targeted because
	we had information to the effect that it was being occupied by the South African Defence Force and/or South African Police security personnel.  We were a unit of four operatives ..."
Chairperson, that's another - four operatives.
"It was myself armed with R4, Mtate, the commander who was also armed with R4, Roger and Jabu..."
Chairperson, Scorpio was not present in this operation.
"...whom I do not remember how were they armed but they also had rifle grenades, M26 grenades and Molotovs.
	We came from Lesotho side and we travelled by foot to Ficksburg.  The firearms were in the back and were carried by myself.  When we arrived at Ficksburg we divided ourselves into two units.  One unit was headed by myself and the other unit by Mtate."
Mtate, Chairperson, if I may, Able Kgotlhe was the applicant, Able Kgotlhe.
"My unit was to attack the abovementioned house and the other headed by Kgotlhe was to attack another one.  During the said attack on the house we fired shots and threw Molotovs or hand grenades and we retreated.  As we were retreating shots were fired at us and we fired back.  As we fired shots, retreating, reinforcements of what we believed to be police arrived and we then ran towards the Ficksburg by-pass road.  At the by-pass our unit saw a vehicle around the by-pass and we believe that it was part of the reinforcement of the police and we fired at it and threw grenades at the vehicle.  When I was on the Lesotho side I fired the rifle grenade so that we can successfully retreat and escape and we retreated and escaped successfully.  I do not know whether anybody was injured."

PHILA MARTIN DOLO: Sorry for correction again, the ...(indistinct) fired upon the Lesotho side, we were still inside South Africa at that time.

CHAIRPERSON: Mr Mbandazayo, what we want to suggest is you go through the affidavit, you indicate all of the changes as you client has done now and you have done before.  Once you're done you must get your client - you've got to lead him on the exchanges and get him to confirm under oath what you have been advising us from the bar informally.

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: I'll do that Chairperson, okay.
"I do not know whether anybody was injured."
	Dunside Farm Attack - During about the 19th December 1992 I was commander of Apla unit that launched an attack on a homestead on a Dunside Farm.  We were a unit of three.  It was myself as a commander armed with R4, Roger armed with pistol and Jabu armed with revolver and we also had a stick grenade.  We took taxi to this area and it was after there was a report that there's a patrol in that no other attacks would take place, we arrived during the day and we made reconnaissance and we waited until it was at night.  We went there on foot and we jumped the fence of the farm and advanced to the house.  Myself and Roger were to launch the attack and Jabu was to act as our security.  When we arrived there was light in another room and the other one was dark.  I deployed Roger on the dark room for him to throw grenade.  Myself I went to the room which had light on, the grenade was thrown and I started shooting and others followed suit.  We retreated whilst shooting and we withdrew to our RV area which was the Lesotho mountains where we waited before the attack.  I subsequently learned that a person died in this attack.  I am presently awaiting trial in regard to charges that are sequel to the above stated evidence.  The charges are murder on the 19th December 1992 at Dunside Farm of Leon Pretorius, attempted murder on the 10th December 1992 at Ficksburg by-pass upon Otto Coetzer firing an automatic machine gun on a motor vehicle wherein he was seated.  I respectfully submit that my application complies with the requirements of the act and that I have made full and proper disclosure of my involvement in the abovementioned operations."
Chairperson, as been indicated by Chairperson I'll lead the applicant then to these corrections.  I'll start at page 6.
Chairperson, I understand that page 6, regarding the house, he has already confirmed it here?

CHAIRPERSON: Yes.

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: Paragraph 11, Mr Dolo do you confirm that you were four operatives and that Scorpion was not present in this incident?

PHILA MARTIN DOLO: I do confirm.

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: Also at paragraph 17, we also wanted to make correction regarding ...[intervention]

PHILA MARTIN DOLO: Paragraph 14 - my unit was to attack the abovementioned house.

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: So you confirm that it was not the house number 143, 3rd Street in Ficksburg that you attacked?

PHILA MARTIN DOLO: Yes I do.

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: Do you also confirm in paragraph 17, do you want to make correction that the grenade was not fired on the side of Lesotho, was fired while still in South Africa?

PHILA MARTIN DOLO: Yes.

RE MR MBANDAZAYO: Now Mr Dolo before we finish, can you help with the affidavit?  I've read your affidavit, can you in your own words as you indicated, how did you come to the decision that you must go to Ficksburg at paragraph 9 and attack those houses?