Rodrigues ‘must face the music for Timol’s murder’ – nephew

FORMER apartheid-era policeman Joao Rodrigues not only participated in the cover-up of Ahmed Timol’s murder during the first inquest in 1972, he “doggedly” persisted with the cover-up until now, says Timol’s nephew, Imtiaz Cajee.

He should thus face the music for his part in Timol’s death, Cajee said in an affidavit filed with the High Court in Johannesburg this week.

Last month he was admitted as a party to the proceedings launched by the 80-year-old Rodrigues for a permanent stay of prosecution.

The application is due to be heard on January 28.

Rodrigues was charged for his role in the murder and with defeating the ends of justice for the death of the anti-apartheid activist. Timol died on October 27, 1971, while he was in police detention at the then-notorious John Vorster Square in Johannesburg.

Rodrigues was the last person with Timol in room 1026 when he plunged to his death from the 10th floor.

The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, during the re-opening of the inquest last year, concluded that Timol had not commited suicide, but had been murdered. Judge Billy Mothle recommended that Rodrigues be charged as he had not been honest with the court during his evidence.

Rodrigues, however, wanted the charges dropped as he claimed his prosecution was unfair due to the delay of more than 47 years in charging him.

Cajee, meanwhile, in his affidavit, said it had been an emotional day for his family when the court ruled last year that his uncle had been murdered and that Rodrigues should face the consequences in court.

He said those behind the heinous acts of violence committed against several anti-apartheid activists during the apartheid era, including Neil Aggett and Moses Mabelane, had been shielded from justice for long enough.

“Most of the perpetrators, including Rodrigues, refused to participate in the Truth and Reconciliation process. If they had, they could have provided the families and nation with muchneeded answers and closure.

“We were only interested in the truth. We sought no vengeance,” Cajee said.