A judgment by the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday compelling the police to pay the legal costs of former security policemen accused of murdering Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) courier Nokuthula Simelane in 1983 establishes an important principle‚ says a group campaigning for the prosecution of apartheid-era human rights violations. The Foundation for Human Rights says the judgment confirms the accused were not on a private frolic but were part of the apartheid state’s machinery. Simelane was a 23-year-old University of Swaziland graduate when she disappeared in Johannesburg while on a mission for MK‚ which was the armed wing of the ANC. She was allegedly abducted and tortured by the security branch of the former South African Police. Simelane was never seen again. A statue in her honour has since been erected in Bethal‚ Mpumalanga. Her younger sister Thembi Nkadimeng has fought tirelessly to discover how her sibling died. In 2016‚ a prosecution was brought against Willem Coetzee‚ Anton Pre...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.