Everson Luhanga
Christian Siebert Rorich, a bomb expert who detonated explosives that killed three members of Congress of South African Students (COSAS) and seriously injured one, appeared in the Kagiso Magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
Rorich, a former apartheid security branch officer, is facing three counts of murder and one attempted murder charge.
Fanyana Nhlapo, Eustice Bimbo Madikela, Ntshingo Matabane, and Zandisile Musi were all killed by the bomb which was detonated on 15 February 1982.
The young men all hailed from Kagiso in Johannesburg and were aged between 17 and 21.
The families of the COSAS Four, as they were known, approached the court in September 2020 to bring the apartheid-era policemen to trial and face justice for their loved ones’ murders.
Nhlapo, Madikela and Matabane died on the scene while Musi survived with serious injuries and was later arrested and severely tortured by the apartheid security forces.
The spokesperson for the victims’ families, Mbulelo Musi, said the former police officer, Rorich, was an explosives expert.
“He detonated the explosives that instantly killed three young activists and seriously injured one at a penthouse near a mine dumping site outside Kagiso Township.”
Mbulelo Musi said that after recovering from his injuries, Zandisile Musi continued to be active in the struggle of young people.
“He was again detained during the State of Emergency and sentenced to five years on Robben Island in 1987.
“He was released in 1991 with impaired hearing as a result of the 1982 bombing.
“Musi passed away on 29 June and was laid to rest in Krugersdorp,” he said.
Mbulelo added that the security police who were involved in the incident were subsequently denied amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1999. That is why they are appearing in court.
“This is a welcome step in the right direction in our long painful, 40-year wait and quest for justice as the four families,” said Mbulelo.
The case has been postponed to 26 October 2021 where it will be transferred to the Johannesburg High Court.
