Riyaz Patel
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola has directed the Judge Presidents of the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal High Courts to reopen the inquests relating to the deaths of anti-apartheid activists Drs Hoosen Haffejee and Neil Aggett.
“It is of paramount importance to society that justice is not seen as a mythical concept, but it must be seen to be done. Conceivably this principle becomes more pronounced where the families of apartheid era victims are concerned,” Lamola said.
Former justice minister Michael Masutha announced in September 2018 that the inquest into Haffejee’s death would be reopened, but for 10 months – and in spite of numerous appeals by the family – the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) gave no indication of when this might happen.
In the Aggett case, there has similarly been little action or correspondence from the NPA as to when the inquest might be heard.
It was only after the Aggett family’s lawyers put NPA boss Shamila Batohi on notice that she made a request for a judge to be appointed, Daily Maverick reported.
During the forensic inquest into Haffejee’s death, it was found that his body was riddled with over 60 wounds on his back, knees, arms and head.
The magistrate, Trevor Blunden, concluded, however, that it was not connected to his death and ruled his death a suicide.
In 1982, anti-apartheid doctor and trade unionist Neil Aggett was ‘found’ dead in his cell while detained under security laws at the notorious John Vorster Square police HQ in Joburg. An inquest ruled his death ‘suicide.’
Meanwhile, two letters written by former TRC commissioners to President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for an inquiry into allegations of political interference in the prosecution of post-apartheid cases have been received but not yet responded to.
A similar appeal by Lukhanyo Calata, the son of Cradock Four victim Fort Calata, to the Zondo Commission of Inquiry has likewise yet to receive any proper response.
