Ex-policeman found guilty of apartheid-era killing

The National Prosecuting Authority said Johan Marais, 65, had pleaded guilty to the killing of Caiphus Nyoka. Local media previously reported how Marais spontaneously had already admitted guilt five years ago on waking from a coma following a suicide attempt.

The homicide was investigated as part of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up in 1996 to process crimes committed under apartheid.

Nyoka was a student activist and belonged to the Congress of South African Students. He was furthermore the South African Youth Congress Organiser of the Transvaal Student Congress and president of the Student Representative Council at his high school.

On August 23, 1987, Marais met with security officials and police to plot the killing of Nyoka.

A plan was devised to raid his home under then-commanding officer Major Leon Louis van den Berg, who also faces charges in the case.

Marais, who has yet to be sentenced, in the early hours of the following day together with several other officers also facing charges broke into Nyoka's room where he and three friends were asleep.

After removing the other three, the officers shot Nyoka nine times. He died from multiple gunshot wounds.

The trial of three other assailants will start next week and is set to run to December 6.

“TRC matters, in their nature and due to the very long lapse of time, disintegration of evidence and lack of availability of critical witnesses, are very difficult to investigate and prosecute,” said the NPA in Gauteng’s Lumka Mahanjana. 

“The joint TRC team, made up of dedicated investigators from the DPCI and prosecutors, will continue to fight the deserving fight against the apartheid-related atrocities and bring justice to society.

“This conviction is, therefore, a significant and impactful outcome, not only for the State and society but most importantly for the victim's families. It brings an important sense of justice and closure, which is priceless.”  

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