Essop never considered suicide

Timol inquest told of torture ordeal

The man who was arrested with anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol in 1971 said yesterday that the thought of committing suicide never crossed his mind.

Salim Essop was arrested with Timol at a roadblock in Johannesburg on October 22 1971. They were found with political pamphlets in their car and were then taken to Newlands police station. Essop and Timol were separated.

Essop was transferred to the John Vorster Square police station‚ now known as Johannesburg Central police station.

Timol died after falling down 10 floors at John Vorster Square police station on October 27. An inquest in 1972 found that Timol had committed suicide.

However‚ the inquest into Timol’s death was reopened at the request of his family after new evidence came to light.

Essop told the inquest yesterday that he was tortured for four days after his arrest and he lost consciousness before being admitted to hospital.

Advocate Howard Varney‚ who is representing the Timol family‚ asked Essop whether he would have had the physical capacity to commit suicide.

Essop said he could not because he was never left alone.

“I don’t think I was able to do that. I was getting more and more incapacitated. I was suffering a lot‚” Essop said.

Judge Billy Mothle asked Essop if the thought of suicide crossed his mind during his torture. Essop said it did not.

“Mentally I do not have an inclination to take my life. I have a strong will to live‚” Essop said.