Caiphus Nyoka’s family willing to forgive killers if they tell them 'the whole story'

JOHANNESBURG - The family of slain anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka said that it is willing to forgive his killers if they come clean about the real reason they murdered him.

On Thursday, the Pretoria High Court sentenced former apartheid police officer Johan Marais to 15 years’ imprisonment for Nyoka's death.

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On 24 August 1987, Marais, along with colleagues, broke into Nyoka’s Daveyton home and killed him in front of his family by shooting him multiple times.

While Marais pleaded guilty to the killing three decades later, Nyoka's sister, Alegria, said that the family doesn’t believe that he shared everything he knows about the murder.

“The way it has happened, it is difficult for us to forgive a person who it looks like he was trying to work things to be in his favour, but it didn’t look like he was remorseful. So, if he extends proper remorse, that he wants us to meet with him to tell us the whole story, maybe there are certain things he didn’t divulge, I think that door is still open.”

Meanwhile, African National Congress (ANC) Daveyton Chairperson Lucas Shabalala said that the party is glad to see justice finally being served after such a long time.

“We also want to see justice to other outstanding families. There are three outstanding suspects in Benoni [Magistrates Court] and we are also expecting the same thing. We know that some people were crying, until now they have not received justice, we are saying to them, they must stand up, we are there to assist them and fight these criminals."