Timol’s nephew Cajee suggests a memorial for all detainees killed

PRETORIA: The nephew of slain anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol has recommended to the court that a sculpture be erected outside Johannesburg Central police station to pay tribute to all political detainees who died during the apartheid era.

Imtiaz Cajee was testifying before Judge Billy Mothle yesterday at an inquest into the death of Timol.

He suggested the 10th floor of the police station should be turned into a memorial and shrine for political detainees tortured or killed during apartheid.

“This could be in the form of a museum or educational centre, open to the public, which tracks the history of security detention and its abuse. Room 1026 and other interrogation rooms should be faithfully restored to how they were in 1971.”

He also said files pertaining to political detainees should be made easily accessible to those seeking answers about their fate.

Cajee said his journey to get to the truth began after Timol’s brother, Mohammad Timol, went into exile in 1978 without bidding him farewell.

“At the age of 12, I remember being confused and angry. I had many questions that needed answers. The unannounced departure of uncle Mohammad troubled me.

“Why did he leave the country? I began asking questions and probing my family to find out about uncle Mohammad and uncle Ahmed. I began reading the newspaper cuttings that the family had kept from the news on uncle Ahmed’s death and the subsequent inquest that was held.”

He intensified his efforts of seeking justice after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1996, where his grandmother testified .

“At that moment, I made a vow to preserve my uncle’s legacy from that day onwards. I was no longer going to just talk about uncle Ahmed but I was going to do something constructive. I wanted the full truth to be exposed,” Cajee said.

A 1972 inquest found that Timol had committed suicide at the infamous John Vorster Square police station, now known as the Johannesburg Central police station.

However, this has been contested by the activist’s family and associates for decades, who believe he was murdered by police.

Jaoa Roderigues, a retired police officer who was the last person to see Timol alive, told the court he saw Timol diving out of the 10th floor of John Vorster.

His testimony has been scrutinised after two separate witnesses contradicted his version of events. The judge has requested that Roderigues be brought back to court.

He is expected to take the stand again tomorrow, after another witness who claims to have more information has testified. – ANA