Caiphus Nyoka’s family shocked at ruling allowing one of his alleged killers to continue working in Iraq
Four former apartheid cops stand accused of the activist’s 1987 murder at his home in Daveyton.
JOHANNESBURG - The family of slain anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka responded with shock to a High Court ruling allowing one of his alleged killers to continue working in Iraq.
On Tuesday, the High Court sitting in Benoni ruled that one of four former apartheid police officers be given his passport allowing him to work as a soldier in the Middle East.
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Nyoka, who was 23 years old at the time, was a leader of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS).
Johan Marais, Leon van den Berg, Abram Engelbrecht, and Pieter Stander are accused of conspiring to murder Nyoka and order to silence him and stop his anti-apartheid work.
Earlier in April, Stander brought an application have his passport given back to him, so he could continue working as a soldier in Iraq.
The court granted the request, releasing him on bail of R350,000 - but Nyoka’s family has questioned the decision.
“This is a matter that has been coming since 1987 and 37 years later, we are before the court,” said their lawyer, Jos Venter.
“Now, for the court to give an accused person an opportunity to return to a foreign country outside of our jurisdiction, it’s a huge risk and definitely not in the interest of deceased or the family.”
The trial against the four former apartheid cops will commence in November.