Amnesty application of Gideon Nieuwoudt fails

Date: 11 Jan 1999
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission refused amnesty to the notorious former police officer Gideon Nieuwoudt, for his role in the death of Steve Biko in 1977. In a seven page decision of the Amnesty Committee chairman Ronnie Pillay stated that Nieuwoudt had failed to demonstrate a political motivation for his actions, a requirement for amnesty. Nieuwoudt was one of five former security policemen who applied for amnesty in connection with Biko's death.

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01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.
02Reuters, (2005), Gideon Nieuwoudt, Apartheid Enforcer, 54, Is Dead, from The New York Times, 20 August, [online], Available at www.nytimes.com [Accessed: 11 December 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Amnesty application of Gideon Nieuwoudt fails. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013413

South African History Online (2011) 'Amnesty application of Gideon Nieuwoudt fails', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013413 (Accessed: 28 August 2026).

South African History Online, Amnesty application of Gideon Nieuwoudt fails [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013413, (accessed 28 August 2026).

"Amnesty application of Gideon Nieuwoudt fails." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013413. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Amnesty application of Gideon Nieuwoudt fails." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013413.