Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Emotions run high at Haron inquest
IT WAS a week of high emotions for the family of late anti-apartheid activist Imam Abdullah Haron as for the first time in decades they were given an insight into the final moments of his life.
The inquest into his death started earlier this week at the Cape Town High Court and saw his daughter Shamela Shamis take the witness stand.
She described her father as a simple man who was a devout Muslim and who cared for those in need.
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Haron’s three daughters would be taking the stand during the inquest, which is expected to end on November 18. Entry to the inquest has been tight, with media having to apply for accreditation before being allowed into the courtroom.
During the second day of the inquest, family and court officials were taken to Caledon Square police station, now known as Cape Town Central police station, where the Imam had spent his time in detention during his 123 days in police custody in 1969. He had also been detained at Maitland police station during this period.
The procedure is known as an inspection-in-loco, and it was attended by the Imam’s three children, who could not fight back their tears.
The children were further overcome with emotion when they saw the flight of stairs their father had allegedly fallen down.
On day three, Dr Itumeleng “Tumi” Molefe took the witness stand where she scrutinised the post-mortem report written by forensic pathologist Professor Theodor Schwär.
Molefe said the professor, who had died in 2019, was a pioneer in his field and was seen as an icon. Yet she had described the report as “lacking”.
According to reports, when Judge Daniel Thulare asked her to explain what she meant, she said Schwär’s description of wounds was inadequate because he had failed to properly describe the exact nature of the number of bruises found on the body.
Schwär found the actual cause of death was a “myocardial ischaemia”, which is reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle. The bruises which Schwär observed on the legs and arms, as he had written in his report, led him to determine that the cause was a possible fall down a flight of stairs.
But Molefe said it was impossible that the bruises were all caused by falling down the stairs.
Molefe said the version of events provided by the Security Branch, who were involved in the imam’s case, was
“highly improbable”.
An inquest had been held in 1970 due to the unnatural cause of death.
On Friday, forensic pathologist. Dr Steve Naidoo, who has 40 years experience, said there were shortcomings with medical doctors’ reports contained in the first inquest’s documents.
Naidoo said some of the reports did not provide details on the bruises on Haron’s body and that these injuries could have been suffered a month or a few weeks before he allegedly fell on the staircase. The inquest continues.