Anti-apartheid activist Dipale’s family’s hope for justice renewed
The family of anti-apartheid activist, Ernest Dipale said their hope for justice in his death was renewed by the High Court ruling that his death was not by suicide.
Delivering his judgment in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Judge Motsamai Makume said evidence before the court pointed to the fact Dipale was not alone in the final moments before his body was found hanging in his cell.
The apartheid activist was 21 when he was arrested and detained at John Voster Square police station.
The inquest into his death and that of Dr Neil Aggett– who also died by hanging in the same cells – were reopened and now both cases have been ruled deaths caused by the actions of members of the police security branch.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister, Ronald Lamola instructed that the Dipale inquest be heard jointly with the Aggett inquest as they both died under similar circumstances and were arrested under the same Terrorism Act/ Internal Security Act.
They were also allegedly interrogated by the same former security branch officers.
The court earlier heard evidence by Gary Paul Hunter, CEO at Aranda textile (Pty)Ltd that the blankets used by detainees were of strong quality and that Dipale could not have used his bare hands to tear the piece from which his lifeless. body was found hanging in August 1982.
WATCH: Tiro Moses Dipale (brother) becomes emotional after Judge Motsamai Makume confirmed the family’s years-long assertion that #ErnestDipale was killed in police custody. Dipale’s brother-in-law Fulufhelo Matumba spoke to on behalf of the family. #Apartheid #SecurityBranch pic.twitter.com/l7z1i9OBob
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) July 11, 2023
Judge Motsamai Makume also said, based on the nature of the injuries described by forensic pathologist Dr Steve Naidoo, which included a bleeding lip caused by blunt force either by a fall or a blow to the face, Dipale it was not alone in his cell the day he died.
He said, during his testimony apartheid spy and assassin Joe Mamasela confirmed he too did not believe Dipale died by suicide.
“He himself concluded that Moabi could not have killed himself because as he said, he was a child. He reiterated that Moabi was killed by members of the security branch,” Makume added.
When considering his testimony, the court took into account Mamasela’s view that Dipale was linked to the death of his close allies in Botswana.
“He was also the same person who fired shots at Moabi but missed. He had also, a year before that raided a safe house in Botswana and took part in the shooting of Moabi’s sister.”
Dipale's sister, Joyce said she was targeted by Mamasela across the continent while she was in exile.
“I survived the torture. My brother, [Steve] Biko, Neil Aggett, and everybody are all gone. For what?”
The National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Phindi Mjonondwane described the ruling as positive.
“The NPA continues in its efforts to deal with cases stemming from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The NPA will move with speed to study the judgment and act on the Judge’s recommendations.”
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