In a surprising turn, one of four apartheid-era police officers accused of murdering anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka (23) yesterday pleaded guilty and was found guilty of murder in the Pretoria High Court.

Johan Marais (65) from Springs, who was due to stand trial next Monday, with three co-accused, admitted to Nyoka’s murder, leading to the early judgment.

The co-accused: Leon Louis van den Berg, Abram Hercules Engelbrecht, and Pieter Stander will proceed to trial as scheduled.

Nyoka, a leader of the Congress of South African Students in Daveyton (a township in Ekurhuleni)  and Transco East Rand co-ordinator, was shot on August 24, 1987, by a police unit allegedly tasked with ‘dealing’ with terrorism.

In court, Marais’ attorney read a statement explaining that Marais unlawfully and intentionally killed Nyoka 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.

Marais recounted that on August 23, 1987, he was summoned to Daveyton for a briefing on a joint operation.

“The next day, at around 02:30, the officers involved, along with security branch members, left Daveyton SAPS to carry out the plan,” he said.

Upon arriving at Nyoka’s home, Marais said he, Engelbrecht, and Stander approached the back of Nyoka’s room while other officers isolated the residence.

Nyoka was lying on a bed with three friends in the room. Marais fired four shots, and, according to him, Stander fired five, killing Nyoka instantly.

Marais admitted Nyoka was unarmed and posed no threat, stating the shooting followed a prearranged plan, allegedly under Engelbrecht’s instruction.

Expressing remorse, Marais said he has suffered emotional trauma for 37 years and disclosed his guilt to a journalist, prompting a police and public response through a newspaper report.

He confirmed that he gave his statement freely, voluntarily, and in a sound state of mind.

Judge Papi Masopa noted that the state’s evidence matched Marais’ guilty plea. Marais was granted R5 000 bail on condition that he does not interfere with witnesses or contact his co-accused.

The matter has been postponed to January 27, pending a psycho-legal report from the defence.

The legal representative for the Nyoka family, Jos Venter, expressed relief following the judgment.

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