Thahir Asmal, Radio Islam News – 11-05-2018

The families of late apartheid activists that suffered mystery deaths are all seeking closure rather than wanting those behind the deaths to be punished.

Naseema Fakir from the Legal Resources Centre together with a team of investigators, lawyers and human rights advocates, this week launched an appeal for information that may assist to uncover how eight people died in unsolved cases during white minority rule in South Africa.

The move comes after the same team helped Ahmed Timol’s family uncover that he was murdered and did not commit suicide.

Fakir told Radio Islam International that last year’s ruling was hugely significant as it proved that these matters can be investigated and litigated successfully even though a number of years had elapsed.

“The case was historic and monumental for a number of reasons. One of the main ones was that it gave people hope that they could get justice for their loved ones who were killed in detention.”

The eight cases under scrutiny are the alleged “suicides” in police custody of Neil Aggett, Hoosen Haffejee and 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.

Fakir says there is still a lot healing that is required for the country to more forward.

“We are appealing for anyone to come forward. I think that’s the primary objectives of these families. They just want the truth so they can have some closure.A lot of the officers involved had died in the Timol case and we expect the same to be the case with these as well.”

Edited by: Faizel Patel