Apartheid hit-man granted bail

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A black member of a police hit-squad in apartheid South Africa, who confessed to killing eight ANC members during the 1980s, has been granted parole.

The correctional services minister, herself a former operative in the ANC's armed wing, said the decision came after consulting the victims' families.

Even so she said it "was a difficult one to swallow".

Almond Nofemela was pardoned in the reconciliation process, but was serving life for the murder of a farmer

Full Story.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8227705.stm
 
Aaaw, all because he's as Dark as the Knight. Pathetic. Why not let Eugene de Kok go? He's such a serene fella these days. A 353 year sentence can do that to you.
 
Nofemela, who had been sentenced to death for murdering Brits farmer Johannes Hendrik Lourens, escaped the gallows at the last minute in 1987 after confessing to killing eight African National Congress members, including Griffiths Mxenge and Zwelibanzi Nyanda, the brother of Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda.
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Wow... I find it quite despicable that the old regime pardoned this farmer killer purely on the fact that he killed members of the ANC. What sort of message is that sending out?
 
Fudzy said:
Wow... I find it quite despicable that the old regime pardoned this farmer killer purely on the fact that he killed members of the ANC. What sort of message is that sending out?
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The TRC pardoned him - are they the "old regime" now? :confused:
 
bwana said:
The TRC pardoned him - are they the "old regime" now? :confused:
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Nofemela, who had been sentenced to death for murdering Brits farmer Johannes Hendrik Lourens, escaped the gallows at the last minute in 1987 after confessing to killing eight African National Congress members, including Griffiths Mxenge and Zwelibanzi Nyanda, the brother of Communications Minister Siphiwe Nyanda.
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http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090828110634852C761058

Where did you find that information? I didn't think the TRC around in 1987.
 
Fudzy said:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20090828110634852C761058

Where did you find that information? I didn't think the TRC around in 1987.
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I think you're confusing having a death sentence commuted to life imprisonment with a pardon.

The TRC on the other hand actually did pardon him for the deaths of the ANC members (but not for the killing of the farmer)
Although he was pardoned by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for making a full disclosure, Nofemela had his death sentence converted to life imprisonment for murdering the farmer.
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bwana said:
I think you're confusing having a death sentence commuted to life imprisonment with a pardon.

The TRC on the other hand actually did pardon him for the deaths of the ANC members (but not for the killing of the farmer)
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Who originally gave him the death sentence? :confused:
 
Fudzy said:
Who originally gave him the death sentence? :confused:
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The justice system under the NP govt - what is traditionally understood when someone talks about the "old regime". On the eve of his execution he revealed the existence of the CCB death squad, and his execution was delayed (and then further delayed by the moratorium on the death penalty). He was still, technically, sentenced to death.

His pardon came from the TRC. That was the exchange: Truth -> Reconciliation. The murder of the farmer was not politically motivated, so was not something for which a pardon was considered.
 
Fudzy said:
Who originally gave him the death sentence? :confused:
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No idea. South African history wasnt really on my school syllabus growing up. That said I'm just skimming over a book now called "Dances with devils: a journalist's search for truth" on google books and it makes for interesting reading. Seems the confession for the murder of the 8 ANC members was made on the eve of his scheduled date of execution.

I dont think it's particularly nefarious that the execution would be stayed and he be granted clemency in return for testimony.

EDIT:
manleystilgram said:
The justice system under the NP govt - what is traditionally understood when someone talks about the "old regime". On the eve of his execution he revealed the existence of the CCB death squad, and his execution was delayed (and then further delayed by the moratorium on the death penalty). He was still, technically, sentenced to death.

His pardon came from the TRC. That was the exchange: Truth -> Reconciliation. The murder of the farmer was not politically motivated, so was not something for which a pardon was considered.
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Thanks for the explanation.
 
Fudzy said:
Who originally gave him the death sentence? :confused:
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He would have been given the death sentence by a judge after the trial for killing the farmer.

I suppose killing the ANC members would have been seen as something good so he was spared the death penalty. And these being politically motivated crimes he got pardoned by the TRC.
 
BrandonH said:
I suppose killing the ANC members would have been seen as something good so he was spared the death penalty.
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Err, no. He was never spared the death penalty. The execution was stayed while his claims were investigated. He was still sentenced to death, until all death sentences were commuted to life terms (in 92/94 AFAICR).

The TRC pardon was for different events. I cannot remember whether the farmer's murder was even considered by the TRC.

And, whatever you may think about the former govt, it is very simplistic to say that "killing the ANC members would have been seen as something good". There was a reason that the CCB was so secret.
 
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manleystilgram said:
Err, no. He was never spared the death penalty. The execution was stayed while his claims were investigated. He was still sentenced to death, until all death sentences were commuted to life terms (in 92/94 AFAICR).

The TRC pardon was for different events. I cannot remember whether the farmer's murder was even considered by the TRC.

And, whatever you may think about the former govt, it is very simplistic to say that "killing the ANC members would have been seen as something good". There was a reason that the CCB was so secret.
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Alright, no need to get your knickers in a knot.
 
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