GOOD Statement by Brett Herron, Unite for Change Leadership Council Member and GOOD Secretary-General:
The GOOD Party applauds the conviction of Abraham Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander for the murder of anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka in 1987.
The two former policemen shot the anti-apartheid student activist at the Nyoka family home in Daveyton.
While Engelbrecht gave the order, Stander carried out the killing with his colleague, Johan Marais, who admitted to his role and was sentenced to a 15-year prison term earlier this year.
Nyoka’s murder was among approximately 300 serious human rights violations recommended for prosecution by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission more than 20 years ago. President Ramaphosa recently appointed a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate decades-long delays in addressing the recommendations.
The appointment of the judicial commission followed the launch of a High Court action for damages by several victims’ families.
Under extreme pressure from the families, the State has, of late, shown signs of renewed interest in seeing justice done. It has reopened the Cradock Four and Chief Albert Luthuli inquests – among others – leading to calls last week from the Pan-Africanist Congress for the re-examination of the death of its former leader, the legendary anti-apartheid activist Robert Sobukwe.
The GOOD Party reiterates its call for justice in all 300-plus cases. This is not a matter of vengeance, but of justice. When prosecutors are allowed to act selectively to satisfy their political masters, the integrity of the entire criminal justice system is undermined.
If there was a deal between the ANC and NP to act unlawfully to prevent prosecutions, South Africans have the right to know exactly who took these decisions, and on what authority.
While the wheels of justice often turn painfully slowly, taking 38 years to resolve the Nyoka matter, the fact that they do eventually turn, at least in some cases, offers a measure of hope.
GOOD Political Position: GOOD is a social democratic political party.
HOV
Australia: You have two cows. Upon further inspection, you realize that one is a koala, the other a kangaroo.
Bridge Whip
Ag man! [Ach-man] This is the Afrikaans equivalent to “Oh man!” and is often used at the beginning of a sentence to express pity, resignation or irritation.Example: “Ag, man!” / “Ag, no man!” / “Ag, shame man!”