MK bomber Grosskopf gets amnesty

Published Dec 13, 2000

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Cape Town - Heinrich Grosskopf, the former Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) member, has been granted amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for offences he committed against the apartheid state in the late 1980s, including the dramatic attack on the Wits Command headquarters in Johannesburg.

Grosskopf, 37, has also been granted amnesty for all offences and military operations arising from activities as a member of the special operations unit of MK, inside South Africa, between September and December 1989.

"We are pleased with the outcome," said Eric van den Berg, of the Bell Dewar Hall law firm, who represented Grosskopf at the TRC hearing.

Grosskopf, who now resides in the United Kingdom, applied for amnesty in 1996. His application was heard on November 21 in Pretoria. Grosskopf came to South Africa for the hearing and returned immediately afterwards.

"I spoke with Grosskopf on Tuesday when the amnesty was granted. This application has had personal consequences for him. He had difficulty with his employer but now he's looking forward to getting on with his life," said Van den Berg.

"The attack perpetrated by the applicant was primarily aimed at a political enemy of the ANC and MK, namely the SADF and ... the apartheid state. Injuries caused to civilians were foreseen but were clearly not the primary objective. There were no fatalities," the TRC said. - Own Correspondent

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