Timol team’s eyes on more apartheid crimes

THE team of investigators‚ lawyers and human rights advocates behind last year’s reopening of the 46-year-old inquest into the death in police custody of Ahmed Timol is appealing for information relating to eight more atrocities allegedly perpetrated by apartheid-era police.

The eight cases under scrutiny are the alleged suicides in police custody of Neil Aggett‚ Hoosen Haffejee and Suliman “Babla” Saloojee‚ the alleged accidental death of Matthews Mabelane‚ the alleged natural deaths of Nicodemus Kgoathe‚ Solomon Modipane and Jacob Monnakgotla‚ and the disappearance and murder of Nokuthula Simelane, following her abduction by the Security Branch in 1983.

Nobody applied for amnesty to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in respect of their deaths.

In its final report, the TRC recommended these and other cases be investigated‚ but nearly 20 years later scant progress had been made‚ the lawyers said.

After many years of campaigning by his family‚ the inquest into the death of Timol was reopened – and the finding altered from suicide to murder by the police.

The team that supported the Timol family said it was now applying its collective mind to more travesties of justice.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu said he viewed the initiative as part of the TRC’s unfinished business.

“The victims’ families have waited far too long for justice,” Tutu said. “Information leading to the resolution of these cases will bring closure not only to the families‚ but also to the nation.” – TimesLIVE