Family to seek Afriforum’s help

THE family of slain soccer boss Rama Reddy plan on seeking help from lobby group Afriforum, in a bid to see justice done almost 28 years after his murder.

Reddy, of Asherville, was found murdered in his car near his home in December 1994. He was allegedly a whistle-blower on fraud and corruption within the local soccer body.

His brother, Sonny Reddy, said he was in the process of putting together documents on his brother's death.

“The system is rotten, both the justice system and prosecuting authority, that anything can happen. We know who the perpetrators are. There was an arrest, but we as a family don’t know why the case was withdrawn.

“We approached the NPA, but nothing happened. The system failed the family and many others like us who have been denied justice. Nothing will bring Rama back. But so many families never get closure because of our failed justice system and police,” he said.

He said many of his family members have gone to the grave without knowing the truth.

“If those responsible for the investigations are corrupt, what can we do? Does it take 28 years to uncover the truth?

“He blew the whistle and unfortunately I think it was with the people that he knew,” said Sonny.

Reddy had been a football referee in the Durban Football Association, and was voted referee of the year when he was 18 years old. He was also the manager of Kingston FC in Asherville.

Reddy was also general secretary of Southern Natal Soccer Board (and later its president), the president of the SA Soccer Federation and a member of the

SA Council on Sport, the Asherville Ratepayers Association and the local ANC branch.

He assisted with the Mandela Welcome Home rally at Kings Park in 1990.

He was also a Safa executive member and the chairperson of the Southern Kwazulu-natal Football Association.

Advocate Phyllis Vorster, a prosecutor at Afriforum, said there was no statute of limitations in murder cases.

“We can look at the matter, but it all depends on what evidence is available and we would need copies of the case document in order to establish if there is a case to prosecute. The problem with private prosecution is it is very expensive.

“We bear all the costs if we do decide to assist. We have to have a strong case to consider it.

“We are a civil rights organisation and the funds we receive are from members. Anybody who approaches us, we can give an objective opinion on the way forward,” said Vorster.

The police acknowledged receipt of the enquiry for information, adding they would respond as soon as they had information.