Western Cape High Court rules Imam Abdullah Haron was tortured to death – Al Jama-ah calls for reparations after findings of torture:
Al Jama-ah Party welcomes the Western Cape High Court’s ruling that Imam Abdullah Haron was tortured to death. The judgement was delivered on Monday 9 October 2023 in the reopened inquest into the killing of the Imam whilst he was in detention for 123 days in 1969.
Imam Haron was arrested on 28 May 1969 under the Terrorism Act and died on 27 September 1969; his death was caused by the cruel and inhumane acts of torture perpetrated by members of the Security Branch at both Caledon Square Police Station and the Maitland Police Station.
Al Jama-ah’s leader and Member of Parliament who was present in the packed court room, says: “The findings of the re-opened inquest open the door to charge one of the torturers a junior officer, Johannes Burger, still alive. The families of Major Kotze and Sergeant Andries van Wyk of whom there are no records of their deaths, and the families of the deceased torturers and murderers who left behind estates, must pay for their murderous deeds. This, too, should apply to the Afrikaner organisations like Afri Forum, unless they come out and condemn their crimes.”
The other Security Branch members involved in torturing the Imam to death are:
- Lieutenant Colonel Johannes Freysen Pienaar who was the Office in charge of the Security Branch, SAP, Cape Town since August 1969. He died on 05 July 1990.
- Major Dirk Kotze Genis, who oversaw the Imam’s investigation and to whom the notorious “Spyker” reported. He died on 01 February 2003.
- Captain Ebanis Jogiemus Johannes Geldenhuys, who was superior to “Spyker”. He died on 24 December 2012.
- Sergeant Johannes Petrus Francois “Spyker” van Wyk, who was the lead interrogator and investigator. He died on 12 November 1990.
Hendricks says it was painful to have heard Judge DanielThulare reading from the judgement: “The arrest of the Imam on this date signified two things. First, he was sold out by a Muslim, secondly, that the SB sought to undermine the Imam’s stature and his faith. To sell out, you betray your own benefits. You corrupt your own goodness with a character trait that is temporary, weak, and selfish for a quick comfort.”
However, the judge was short of finding the security establishment which leads right up to the then prime minister being complicit in the torture and murder. Torture is a crime against humanity and the judge should have referred the leaders of the then governing party to the International Court of Justice.
“The fact that those named, reopens the demand that Afrikaners must pay reparations to the victims’ families as they voted for this oppressive establishment. There are many cases of tortures and murders and reparations must address the socio-economic hardships suffered by the victims and their families,” says Hendricks.