Apartheid cop (65) pleads guilty, found guilty of murdering Daveyton activist in 1987
He was granted bail of R5 000 on condition he not interfere with State witnesses or communicate with his co-accused.
In a surprising turn of events, one of the four apartheid-era police officers accused of murdering Daveyton anti-apartheid student activist Caiphus Nyoka (23) pleaded guilty and was found guilty of murder in the Pretoria High Court today (November 12).
Johan Marais (65), from Springs, who was scheduled to stand trial on November 18 with three co-accused admitted responsibility for Nyoka’s murder, which led to the early judgment.
The co-accused, Leon Louis van den Berg, Abram Hercules Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander, will face trial as scheduled.
Nyoka, who was a prominent leader of the Congress of South African Students in Daveyton and the co-ordinator for Transco East Rand, was fatally shot on August 24, 1987, by members of a police unit allegedly established to “deal” with terrorism.
During court proceedings, Marais’ attorney read a statement which detailed that on that day Marais unlawfully and intentionally killed Nyoka by shooting him with a firearm.
“The deceased was opposed to the apartheid government and frequently challenged its discriminatory policies.
His involvement in educational and local politics led to him being identified as a threat to the apartheid regime,” the statement read.
According to Marais, on August 23, 1987, he was summoned to Daveyton, where he was briefed by other police officers about a joint operation.
“The next day, at around 02:30, the officers involved in planning the operation, along with several members of the security branch, left Daveyton SAPS to go to the parental home of the deceased and execute the plan,” he said.
Upon arriving at the house, Marais explained that he, Engelbrecht and Stander approached the back of Nyoka’s room, while other officers isolated the residence.
Marais said Nyoka was lying on a bed and there were three friends also in the room.
He then fired four shots at Nyoka, while Stander fired five. The nine shots killed Nyoka instantly.
Marais admitted that Nyoka posed no threat and was unarmed.
He stated that the shooting was carried out according to a pre-arranged plan and under instruction from Engelbrecht.
Expressing regret, Marais said he was remorseful for his actions.
“I have suffered tremendous emotional trauma over the past 37 years due to committing this offence, and I was the one who declared my guilt to a journalist, who in turn alerted the police and the public through his newspaper report.”
He added that he provided the statement freely and voluntarily, while of sound and sober mind.
Judge Papi Masopa acknowledged that the State’s evidence was thorough and aligned with Marais’ guilty plea.
He was granted bail of R5 000 on condition he not interfere with State witnesses or communicate with his co-accused.
The matter has been postponed to January 27, pending the submission of a psycho-legal report by the defence.
Also Read: UPDATE: Accused in Caiphus Nyoka murder case loses job in Iraq, bail conditions amended
Also Read: Slain Caiphus Nyoka honoured at wreath-laying ceremony
