SA amnesty raises storm

The ANC has been celebrating its 90th anniversary

By Joanna Ross BBC correspondent in Cape Town

The Ministry of Justice in South Africa has released the names of 33 prisoners granted a presidential pardon last week for their role in the South African freedom struggle.

Many had been convicted of murder and include members of the ruling African National Congress Party.

Some had applied for amnesty under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, or TRC, and been rejected.

The Minister of Justice, Penuell Maduna, said this week that the TRC had failed to bring about reconciliation and that the government was now in a position to put things right.

The TRC was established by former President Nelson Mandela to investigate abuses in the apartheid era and promote unity and reconciliation.

'Mockery'

Under the chairmanship of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the TRC had the power to grant amnesty to people who fully disclosed their role in the struggle and had acted with a political motive.

He believes the decision to free those rejected by the TRC could make a mockery of the Commission.

The opposition Democratic Alliance has accused the president of using a back-door approach to those refused a reprieve from the TRC.

The Justice Department denies that there will now be a blanket amnesty, stating that in view of the present crime situation in South Africa a very strict policy is being applied and that each application for pardon is considered on its own merit.

The way is now paved for other political parties to plead for clemency for their members imprisoned for crimes committed during the apartheid years, which could include the murderers of charismatic South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani and other prominent figures.