second chance for trc failures
16 April 2008

The group, which consists of a member from each political party in Parliament, was established by Mbeki after a special announcement that this group would help him make decisions on presidential pardons for political offenders.

Mbeki specifically excluded amnesty applications denied by the commission and any sexual offences. He and Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla have been under increasing pressure to resolve pardon applications from prisoners who claim to have acted with a political motive, particularly from the Inkatha Freedom Party.

The IFP has taken Mabandla to the Human Rights Commission on the basis that the three years in which more than 300 IFP members have waited for pardons to be considered was too long and violated their rights. The commission agreed and ruled against Mabandla.  The issue of presidential pardons for politically motivated crimes has raised fears it will turn into a backdoor amnesty without the rules of full disclosure and proportionality as applied by the commission.

The reference group chairman, Democratic Alliance justice spokesman Tertius Delport, said at a media briefing yesterday it had successfully asked Mbeki to extend the period to lodge applications for pardons.

The original deadline set by Mbeki last November was yesterday. Delport said difficulties in getting the group operational had necessitated the extension until 31 May 2008.

Wyndham Hartley, www.businessday.co.za