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The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Ex-Apartheid cop from Springs jailed 15 years for Caiphus Nyoka's murder
After nearly four decades of longing for justice, the family of slain anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka finally breathed a sigh of relief on July 10 as former apartheid-era police officer and Springs resident, Johan Marais was sentenced to 15 years in prison for Nyoka's murder. Overcome with emotion, members of the family broke down in tears in a packed courtroom at the Pretoria High Court. The public gallery, filled with ANC supporters and activists, erupted in song and shouted 'Hamba', meaning 'Go', as Marais, visibly shaken and holding a plastic bag, was led down to the holding cells. Delivering the sentence, Judge Papi Masopa condemned the brutality of the apartheid regime. He acknowledged that although there had been an instruction to kill, it was unlawful. 'It is unfortunate that the political heads of your time are not standing trial today, those who propagated racist laws that led you to act the way you did. What happened in the 1980s related to police brutality must not be repeated in our democracy,' said Masopa. He said evidence accepted by the State showed that the murder was committed by a group of people who acted with a common purpose. 'It is difficult to make a finding that the murder was premeditated or planned, but I find it difficult to understand how an operation to arrest an individual could involve such a high number of police officers from different units if their intention was not to kill.' Masopa also reflected on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). 'Fast forward into democracy and, in the spirit of the Constitution, TRC proceedings were initiated, where murderers of the apartheid era were given an opportunity to disclose their evil past in return for indemnity from prosecution. 'But the accused did not participate in that process, despite being fully aware of it. 'Only in 2019, after attempting to commit suicide, did the accused decide to approach a journalist and disclose his past. The evidence does not indicate what led to this change of heart.' Masopa said the accused wrote a letter of apology to the family on January 13, 2025, after pleading guilty on November 12, 2024, suggesting the apology formed part of his mitigation strategy. 'The surrounding circumstances do not indicate genuine remorse. He had over 20 years to disclose what he did in 1987. I'm not persuaded that the accused truly appreciates the consequences of his actions. 'The death of the deceased not only negatively impacted his family, but also the community he served as a student activist. His parents died before ever finding closure,' said Masopa. Speaking outside the courtroom, Nyoka's elderly sister, Alegria Nyoka, said they are pleased that after 38 years, justice has finally prevailed. ALSO CHECK: 'People know about it, but don't use it': Springs prosecutor on maintenance court services 'My brother's spirit has fought for this moment. It's difficult to forgive him (Marais) because it seemed like he was trying to gain sympathy and make things work in his favour. He didn't appear genuinely remorseful,' she said. Marais had pleaded guilty to the 1987 murder of Nyoka, a prominent leader of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in Daveyton and co-ordinator for the Transvaal Congress (Transco) East Rand. Nyoka was fatally shot on August 24, 1987, by members of a special police unit allegedly formed to crack down on so-called 'terrorists'. Marais's conviction follows his confession and guilty plea, which led to an early judgment. However, the trials of his co-accused, Leon Louis van den Berg, Abram Hercules Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander, all former apartheid police officers, continue. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Tears of joy as Nyoka family sees justice 38 years later
After nearly four decades of longing for justice, the family of slain anti-apartheid activist Caiphus Nyoka finally breathed a sigh of relief on July 10, as former apartheid-era police officer Johan Marais was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his murder. Overcome with emotion, members of the Nyoka family broke down in tears in a packed courtroom at the Pretoria High Court. The public gallery, filled with ANC supporters and activists, erupted in song and shouted 'Hamba', meaning 'Go', as Marais, visibly shaken and holding a plastic bag, was led down to the holding cells. Delivering the sentence, Judge Papi Masopa condemned the brutality of the apartheid regime. He acknowledged that although there had been an instruction to kill, it was unlawful. 'It is unfortunate that the political heads of your time are not standing trial today, those who propagated racist laws that led you to act the way you did. What happened in the 1980s, related to police brutality, must not be repeated in our democracy.' He said evidence accepted by the State shows that the murder was committed by a group of people who acted with common purpose. 'It is difficult to make a finding that the murder was premeditated or planned, but I find it difficult to understand how an operation to arrest an individual could involve such a high number of police officers from different units if their intention was not to kill.' Masopa also reflected on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). 'Fast forward into democracy and, in the spirit of the Constitution, TRC proceedings were initiated, where murderers of the apartheid era were given an opportunity to disclose their evil past in return for indemnity from prosecution. But the accused did not participate in that process, despite being fully aware of it. 'Only in 2019, after attempting to commit suicide, did the accused decide to approach a journalist and disclose his past. The evidence does not indicate what led to this change of heart.' Masopa said the accused wrote a letter of apology to the family on January 13, 2025, after pleading guilty on November 12, 2024, suggesting the apology formed part of his mitigation strategy. 'The surrounding circumstances do not indicate genuine remorse. He had over 20 years to disclose what he did in 1987. I'm not persuaded that the accused truly appreciates the consequences of his actions. The death of the deceased not only negatively impacted his family, but also the community he served as a student activist. His parents died before ever finding closure,' said Masopa. Speaking outside the courtroom, Nyoka's elderly sister, Alegria Nyoka, said they are pleased that after 38 years, justice has finally prevailed. 'My brother's spirit has fought for this moment. The way things happened, it's difficult to forgive him because it seemed like he was crying to gain sympathy and make things work in his favour; he didn't appear genuinely remorseful,' said Alegria. Marais had pleaded guilty to the 1987 murder of Caiphus Nyoka, a prominent leader of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in Daveyton and co-ordinator for the Transvaal Congress (Transco) East Rand. He was fatally shot on August 24, 1987, by members of a special police unit allegedly formed to crack down on so-called 'terrorists'. Marais's conviction follows his confession and guilty plea, which led to an early judgment. However, the trials of his co-accused, Leon Louis van den Berg, Abram Hercules Engelbrecht and Pieter Stander, all former apartheid police officers, continue. Also Read: Caiphus Nyoka murder trial: Apartheid cops plead not guilty Also Read: Slain Caiphus Nyoka honoured at wreath-laying ceremony At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Apartheid top-cop gets 15 years for Caiphus Nyoka murder
Former apartheid police officer, Johan Marais, has been sentenced to 15 years direct imprisonment. He was charged for the murder of student activist, Caiphus Nyoka. Nyoka was killed on 24 August 1987. At the time, Marais was the section leader of the Reaction Unit 6 in Dunnottar. The unit was a counter-terrorist force with the South African Police Service. 'The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the sentence of 15 years,' said NPA spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane. At the time of Caiphus Nyoka's death, he was a member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), as well as the president of the Student Representative Council (SRC) at Mabuya High School. 'He was also the organiser for the South African Youth Congress Organiser (SAYCO) in the East Rand,' said Mjonondwane. Nyoka fiercely opposed apartheid policies and did not shy away from opposing them publicly. The Pretoria High Court has previously heard evidence detailing the events leading up to Nyoka's killing, 37 years ago. It was presented that Marais, together with members of the security branch and other units within SAPS, met to discuss a plan to kill Nyoka. In the early hours of 24 August 1987, Nyoka was shot nine times after the police stormed his bedroom. He died on the scene due to the multiple gunshot wounds. Then commanding officer, Major Leon Louis van den Berg, Sergeant Pieter Stander and Sergeant Abram Hercules Engelbrecht have since been charged separately for the murder. 'During the sentencing arguments, Marais told the court that he committed the offence 37 years ago under the instructions of the apartheid regime,' said Mjonondwane. However the team of prosecutors assigned to the case argued that Marais pleading guilty, was not an indication of remorse, as he has still not apologised to the family. Judge Papi Mosopa also agreed that Marais had failed to demonstrate pure remorse. Mosopa said he felt the sentence he gave Marais was fitting for the crimes committed. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Herald
10-07-2025
- The Herald
Caiphus Nyoka's killer Johan Marais gets 15 years as court cites lack of remorse
'In the early hours of August 24 1987 at about 2.30am, Marais, together with Sgt Pieter Stander, Sgt Abram Hercules Engelbrecht and other members of the reaction unit who are also charged separately, arrived at Nyoka's homestead and stormed Nyoka's room. They found him sleeping with three of his friends. After identifying him, they removed the friends from the room and proceeded to shoot him nine times.' Mahanjana said Nyoka died on the scene. During the sentencing arguments, Marais told the court that he committed the offence 37 years ago under the instructions of the apartheid regime, further asking the court for a sentence of correctional supervision because of his age, medical condition and that he showed remorse for his actions. However, Mahanjana said the team of prosecutors — advocates Esther Dlelwani Kabini, Daniel Desi Mogotsi and Vhulahani Nesengani Davhana — asked the court to impose a stringent sentence and argued that Marais, together with his co-perpetrators who are still standing trial for the same matter at the Pretoria high court sitting in Benoni, committed a planned brutal killing of Nyoka. 'They targeted him, isolated him from the friends he was with and killed him execution style while half-naked, sleeping in his bed. Furthermore, the team argued that the fact that Marais pleaded guilty does not show true remorse because even after 37 years, he still has not apologised to the family,' she said. The NPA has welcomed the sentence, stating that the sentence was significant and impactful, not only for the state and society, but most importantly for the victims' families to finally find closure. TimesLIVE
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
South African court jails ex-cop for apartheid murder
AI- Generated Image JOHANNESBURG: A South African court Thursday served a 15-year jail sentence on an ex-policeman for the 1987 murder of a young anti-apartheid activist in a rare conviction for such crimes. In 2019, Johan Marais admitted killing Caiphus Nyoka, a member of the Congress of South African Students, in a township east of Johannesburg. High Court judge Papi Mosopa said Marais, lacked genuine remorse and ruled the 66-year-old be jailed for 15 years as "retribution". More than a dozen people wearing T-shirts bearing Nyoka's image burst into anti-apartheid songs in court after the verdict was read out. The National Prosecuting Authority hailed it as "ensuring accountability for atrocious crimes" referred to it by South Africa's truth and reconciliation commission (TRC), set up in 1996 to process crimes committed under apartheid. The TRC heard about 7,000 applications for amnesty from perpetrators of gross human rights violations from 1960 to 1994, the year white-minority rule ended. But only a handful were prosecuted. Nyoka was sleeping with three friends when officers raided his home and shot him nine times, it said. He died from multiple gunshot wounds. "This sentence is therefore significant and impactful, not only for the state and society, but most importantly for the victims' families to finally find closure," the NPA said in a statement.
