By Doreen Mokgolo
- Student activists went into hiding after police killed their friend Caiphus Nyoka in 1987.
- Three former police officers now face murder charges after one officer confessed last week.
Friends of slain student leader Caiphus Nyoka had to live in hiding after apartheid police killed Nyoka in his Daveyton bedroom 37 years ago.
Three former police officers are now on trial for shooting Nyoka multiple times on 24 August 1987. Last week, Reaction Unit 6 leader Johan Marais pleaded guilty to the murder.
On Wednesday, commanding officer Major Leon van der Berg, Sergeant Pieter Stander, and Sergeant Abram Hercules Engelbrecht visited Nyoka’s home with court officials.
This was part of the court trial’s inspection in-loco of the crime scene.
Nyoka’s friend Vuyani Marasela says the officers could have confessed at the Truth Commission but chose to paint Nyoka as a terrorist.
“As leaders of Cosas” – the Congress of South African Students – “we lived in fear of the police, we were often in hiding, arrested together and our homes were raided and family members victimised,” Marasela said.
When Marasela heard about Nyoka’s death, he learned police had been looking for him too.
“I had spent the weekend at my wife’s home. I immediately packed my bags and went back to hide at her home for months,” he said.
Nyoka led several student groups and openly challenged apartheid policies. He was president of Mabuya High’s SRC and worked for Cosas.
Justice Minister Thembi Simelane said bringing old apartheid cases to court has been difficult.
“These are old cold cases, time has lapsed with most of the victims and perpetrators having since died,” she said. “We had to piece information together until now that we are ready to bring seven TRC cases to court.”
The trial continues on Thursday with testimony from Nyoka’s sister.
Pictured above: Major Leon van der Berg, Sergeant Pieter Stander, and Sergeant Abram Hercules Engelbrecht.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
