Death of political activist Hoosen Haffejee to be reopened
A decades-long case into
the death of political activist Hoosen Haffejee is being reopened after a
Pietermaritzburg judge ruled that the Durban dentist was murdered.
The high court says those linked to his killing in 1977 must be held responsible.
Haffejee died at the Brighton Beach police cells after he was detained for his alleged involvement in anti-apartheid activities.
It was previously ruled he'd taken his own life.
The NPA began investigations after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission wrapped up proceedings.
"The inquest was thus reopened, and new additional evidence was presented to the inquest court," says the NPA in KZN's Natasha Kara.
"In reaching his decision, Judge Z P Nkosi considered the evidence from medical experts disputing that Haffejee’s death was self-inflicted, the testimonies of other detainees who also endured interrogations by the SA Police Security Branch, and an inspection in loco of the crime scene, where an expert had reconstructed the scene."
In overturning the findings of the initial inquest, Nkosi referred to the first inquest as pitiful, sub-standard and riddled with bias.
He concluded that Haffejee's death was not self-inflicted.
His recommendations were that the surviving members of the police security branch as well as others, be held responsible
